How
to Show Parents How to Use Reading Strategies
Allison Demas
Good
reading instruction shows students how to help themselves as readers.
It provides them with strategies, such as looking at the picture,
the three cueing system, skip and return, and determining vocabulary
from context. We would like to think that our students then go off
and use these strategies whenever they are reading. We would like
to think that this happens, but many times this is not the case.
Sometimes they simply forget how to help themselves and need a prompt.
And who better to prompt them than their parents.
First
we need to show their parents how to provide these prompts. You
will need to present a demonstration of the particular strategy
you want your students to use. This means that you need to write
up a script and rehearse with whomever is going to assist you. One
person will pretend to be the child and one will be the parent.
You should find a perfect example of the strategy you want to present,
preferably from a book your students have used or will use. Make
a copy of the page, and either enlarge it or use an overhead projector
to display it. You should present the strategy just as you would
in your classroom with a student. But, instead of pointing to a
small book you will be using the enlarged text or overhead projector.
The procedure should be presented and then explained. It is best
to first show it in its entirety so the parents can see exactly
how their conversation should occur. It is a good idea to write
up a strategy sheet which breaks down the steps of the strategy.
This should be distributed to the parents after the demonstration.
A recap of the presentation could be conducted while you present
the sheet, matching the steps on the sheet with your actions in
the demonstration. Of course, any papers presented in English should
be translated into the necessary languages.
If the parents know what we do in the classroom then they can provide
the same assistance outside the classroom. The children will (one
hopes) make the connection to their classroom experiences and then
remember to help themselves.
Everyone
wins when you show parents how to use reading strategies. The parents
become active participants in their child’s education, the
child becomes a better reader, and your job becomes easier, more
enjoyable and more fulfilling.
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