Dear Parents,
Our summer book club has been going very well! As pre-readers we have been focusing our learning on understanding how books work, specifically
· Identifying the cover of a book
· How to hold a book & turn the pages carefully
· Knowing that the left hand page is read before the right
You can help your child strengthen these skills at home by
ü Talking about the cover of the book – guess what the book may be about from the title and cover picture
ü Asking if the letters or pictures are upside down – these are clues that something isn’t right
ü Model - When we turn the pages at preschool we start with our thumb and pointer at the top corner and slide it down gently to the middle or bottom to turn the page very gently
ü Pointing to the words as you read them to show the flow of the text from left to right
*Your child will be sent home with a learning page. Before you read your book, please read through the rules on the learning page with your child. Then read a book and at the end have your child color a box for each rule he/she followed during the story. Return the completed learning page in your book bag to preschool for a reward!
BOOK CLUB FAQ’s
Q: How often should I bring the book bag to school?
A: Everyday! We have book club Monday Wednesday, Friday but if you get in the habit of bringing it everyday, it will be easier to remember. Plus your child can change books as often as they like. If you do forget it one day, don’t worry about it; we will put new books & learning activities in your child’s mailbox folder.
Q: What should I keep in the book bag?
A: Please keep your reading log and the books your child brings home from school in the book bag. If your child wants to bring books from home to share at school they can go in the book bag too. The book bag is simply an easy way for you and us to keep everything from book club organized for your child. Also, any book from home or school you read with your child can be recorded on the log.
Q: How often should we read?
A: As often as you can! But try to read at least one book everyday. The more you read the better, as long as your child is interested.
The very best thing you can do to ensure your child will be a strong reader is to build their love of books and reading. There’s an education adage that goes, “What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn.” Please check out the link on our Little Dreamers Big Believers website to the article “Reading Aloud Better Prepares Kids for School” for more information on how beneficial reading aloud is for your child.
If you have any more questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to speak with us. We really appreciate your involvement and support in your child’s learning!
Happy Reading,
Jessica, Jason and Gretchen
