Reading...Let's Dive Deeper!

Why did the author write that?

As part of our major inquiry into "Why Write?" and it's more personal question "Why do I write?"  we are exploring the message that an author sends through their writing.  Following the excitement of the students' response to Lauren Child last term, we are enjoying exploring the works of Pamela Allen, author of well known books such as "Who Sank the Boat?" and "Alexander's Outing". 
This inquiry into Pamela Allen's world will give us opportunities to continue grappling with the idea of how we read; how do we 'get at' the message an author might have?
Readers need many strategies for unlocking texts, movies, and pictures.  All of them involve thinking skills, and these are our continued focus, and in fact are always a focus throughout life!  We all use these skills to varied degrees, with increasing sophistication...

• Prediction: this includes reading on and re-reading to confirm or reject predictions.
• Connection: relating to our own experiences, other texts, or events in the world.
• Visualisation: imagination!  Running a movie in your head as you read. Acting out!
• Summarisation: re-telling or paraphrasing what you think it means.
• Inferring: taking various clues and thoughtfully connecting them to deepen understanding

In the first three weeks, the children have all taken part in reading workshops that challenge them to develop their observation skills, leading to sharper summaries and thoughtful inferences.  We will continue these conversations with the students as we explore more Pamela Allen books and the works of other writers. 
Read at Home tip;
If your child becomes stuck on a word, suggest that they re-read the sentence, look at the picture, and sound the first letter, or letter cluster.  Then THINK...'use the clues'...what could the word be? 
Also try skipping over the word and reading on to the end of the sentence, then re-consider what the missing word could be.  Encourage them to make connections with their experience of other books/events in real life to assist in unlocking the missing word.  Say the word in letter clusters with your child eg. "br-eak-f-ast" not "b-r-e-a-k-f-a-s-t" (that doesn't help!)
It is great to be back!  Talk to me or any of the year one teachers if you have questions or observations to pass on about your child and reading!
Janette.