Level 4 (Grades 2-6) News
The Week Past
This week was very exciting for our Grade 2-6 students! Grade 3 and 5 children sat their NAPLAN tests across three days. All the teachers were very impressed with how well the children concentrated and tried their best on the tests. Well done, Grade 3 and 5 students!
The Grade 2, 4 and 6 children also had a special week, completing some of their lessons on level 5. It was lovely to see the students mixing and mingling in a different space. They handled the changes to their routine with maturity and were very respectful of their friends doing NAPLAN downstairs.
Take Home Reading
In this week's newsletter, we are focussing on communicating the processes and expectations of the take home reading program. We know that it can be confusing! We are here to help and are therefore writing an explanation for you. Please read through it and see your child's teacher if you have any questions. We look forward to working together to help your child reach their reading potential.
Grade 2 - Take Home Reading
The Grade 2 students sure are eager beavers when it comes to reading! Mondays are always very busy as children scour the bookshelves to find three good fit books. Children are reminded that a good fit book is one that they are interested in and is not too easy and not too hard.
Please Note: Our books are absolutely wonderful - there are many classic stories that have stood the test of time (including one of Miss Maddy's favourites - Madeline!) along with current and popular books (the Weirdo series is being shared by many kids each day). Our Grade 2 books range from short, decodable books through to a range of chapter books. They are not levelled. Your child will be supported to choose books that develop their reading skills in their reading lessons at school. Often, students will choose a book to bring home based on the fact that they adore it. They may even bring it home twice because they love it so much! This is fantastic! Sometimes these books will be too easy for your child, and sometimes they will be too hard. This is okay. However, if this is continually the case and you are concerned, please speak to your child's teacher.
To broaden children's interests and ensure a balanced reading 'diet', students are guided to choose one fiction book, one non-fiction book and one bonus book (fiction or non-fiction) each week. These books will be brought home on Monday. We ask that you please take care of them and keep them in a safe place.
It is recommended that your child reads for at least 4 nights. Each night that you read, please ensure that you or your child fills in the take-home reading journal.
On Fridays, it is expected that your child returns their three books and brings their take-home reading journal in to be checked.
Over the weekend, we encourage you to visit local libraries and to access books from myON.
Grade 3-6 - Take Home Reading
All students in Grades 3 to 6 participate in Accelerated Reader (often shortened to 'AR'). The AR process is designed to boost the amount of reading that your child does, along with tracking that they understand their reading (reading comprehension). The AR process is as follows:
1. Students choose and borrow a book from the class library. These books are organised in to levels which are represented by colours. Your child may be on blue AR books, red AR books, green AR books, etc. The reading level that your child is on is determined by a reading assessment at the beginning of each term.
2. Students read this book at school (during independent reading) and at home. It is important that your child brings their book to school each day.
3. After finishing the book, they will take a short, multiple-choice quiz through the Accelerated Reader link on their device. This quiz checks if they understood the book. Students are given their comprehension score at the end of each quiz.
Please Note: Students can take their quiz in the learning space between 8:45am–9am. They cannot take quizzes at home or during class time, so it is important that they are at school at 8.45am.
4. Students return their books and begin the process again.
Students will also earn points for each book that they read and pass the test on. The amount of points they earn depends on the difficulty level of the book. Students can find out how many points the book is worth by reading the label inside the front cover. Each child has a points target for Term 2. They will be supported and encouraged at school to reach this. To help, please ask your child what their points target is (e.g. 10 points, 15 points, 20 points, etc.) and how they are progressing towards this. Further information about tracking your child's AR points will come in future newsletters.
Note: Some Grade 2 students also participate in Accelerated Reader. These students have scored at a Grade 3 level or above in both the STAR Reading assessment and the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency assessment. Parents of these children have been informed. Other families will be informed if their child becomes eligible throughout the year.