Frequently Asked Questions

Reading is a lifelong skill. Developing lifelong readers requires patience and persistence. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions. If you do not find what you need here, please contact me.

How much time should my child spend reading each day? Your child is expected to read for pleasure each day for 20 minutes and record the book on his/her reading log. A good rule of thumb is to match reading time with "screen time". If your child spends time reading before going to bed, you will find him/her more relaxed and ready to sleep than when time before bed is spent watching TV or playing video games.

How can I help my reader? We use lots of strategies to build strong readers. When reading with your child at home, it is helpful to know some of what we use in school to provide consistency. When reading a book, have your child look carefully at illustrations on the page. You might even want to take a "picture walk" through the book before beginning. Look at the pictures and talk about what seems to be happening in the story or book. As your child reads, give him/her time to decode a word before jumping in to provide it or correct it. The steps we encourage are: check the picture, think about what makes sense, go back and read again, get your mouth ready to say the word, and finally look for chunks you know. Many of us were taught to "sound out" the word, which differs from "chunking". Looking at syllables or parts of words "chunks" rather than each letter, helps the reader say the word without individually identifying each letter's sound. Finally, it's okay to let your child say the wrong word. At the end of the sentence or page of reading, if he/she hasn't realized and corrected the word, then go back an ask him/her to think about whether what was said made sense. Give him/her the opportunity to apply the above skills to read the word correctly.

How can I find books for my child to read? The Greenville County Library system offers FREE library cards to adults and children. If your child does not already have a card, now is the time to get one. Simply bring your child and proof of residency in Greenville County. You and your child can check out books for three weeks at a time. Look for informational texts about topics being studied in science and social studies, as well as fictional books for reading pleasure. All Taylors students visit our school library and are able to borrow books through the school. At any time when a child needs a new book, it's as simple as returning the current one for a new book. You do not have to wait for your class' library day to return and borrow books.

Where can I find articles about reading, struggling readers, or ways in which I can help my child read? www.readingrockets.com is a great resource for parents and educators to learn more about reading.

How often do you check your messages? I check messages before and after school each day. I also try to check messages during the day as time allows. If for some reason I do not answer your email within 24 hours, please resend it. It is a personal goal for me to respond to you on the same day, as quickly as is possible.

My email address is asmeaton@greenville.k12.sc.us and my room phone number is 355-7495.