Helene Volkert, the Lucas language arts resource specialist and reading teacher, spoke to the PTO at last night’s meeting about the reading curriculum and ways parents can support their children’s reading development. Parents at the meeting had the opportunity to view and flip through classroom reading materials for all grade levels and even participate in an exercise designed to simulate the experience of a young reader approaching an unfamiliar picture book.
Volkert described the wide range of materials available for teachers to develop lessons as well as how the reading curriculum is delivered in large group, small group and one-on-one formats.
Volkert said that in addition to reading with their children at home, parents can participate in reading development by talking about letter sounds, rhyming words and constructing and deconstructing word sounds (younger readers); and encouraging readers to predict or infer what will happen in a story and use vocabulary words in every day context (older readers.)
In response to a parent question, Principal Julia Burton acknowledged that unfortunately district budget cuts mean fewer students in need of reading support are receiving it this year. PTO President Dave Snyder said this is another reason parent volunteers are such a vital part of the Lucas community. Watch this space next week for more information and a call for volunteers.
Be sure to mark your calendars for next month’s PTO meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., when a similar presentation focused on the math curriculum will be on the agenda.
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