Literacy
Reading Grades Primary - Five
Reading:
Practice reading every day.
Read what you have in your home (books, flyers, magazines).
When you are reading, think:
What is this about? (Main Idea)
What have I learned?
What surprised me?
How do I feel after reading this?
Who were the characters in the story? (Fiction)
What was the setting? (Fiction)
Can I retell the story (what happened in the beginning, middle and end)?
Can I draw a picture of something that happened?
Writing Grades Primary - Five
Writing:
Practice writing every day.
You can use what you have at home for writing; paper, cardboard.
Writing can look different every day (sentences, a list or a picture with labels)
Where do writers get their ideas?:
Something that happened.
Something you like.
Something that excites you.
Something that you wonder about.
When you are writing, think:
What is it that I want to write? Say it out loud.
What kind of letter should I have at the beginning of my sentence?
What should I put at the end of my sentence?
How can I add more details to my writing? (describe characters, settings, objects)
After writing:
Does my writing make sense?
Did I forget anything? (punctuation, words)
Can I add anything to my writing? (more details)
Who can I share my writing with?
Working With Words Grades Primary - Five
Working With Words:
You can work with words you find around your home (food labels, flyers,magazines).
Think of words you have learned in your classroom or words you use in your writing. (word wall words, friend’s names).
Ideas for working with words:
How many words can you write in 5 minutes?
Find a “big” word. How many words can you make using the letters in your “big” word.
Syllables- look for words that have 2, 3, 4, and 5 syllables.
Look for compound words.
Look for words that rhyme.
Look for words that start with the same letter or cluster.
Look for words that have the same ending.
Practice making words using different materials (pebbles, pasta, cereal, string)
Write words in different material (using sugar, salt, sand, soil)
Sort words according to beginning sounds, end sounds, syllables.
Literacy Strategies: Middle and High School Students
Reading and Viewing:
Let your child see you reading and discuss how reading plays a role in your work and at home.
Watch TV, movies, and documentaries together. Take turns choosing what to watch. Ask your child questions like: What do you think will happen? Why did that person do that? What are you wondering now?
Take opportunities to demonstrate how reading is a life skill. Read the following together with your child, as age-appropriate: Recipes, instruction manuals, newspapers, shopping flyers, medication packaging, application forms, bills, nutrition labels, package directions, etc.
Apply for a library card through the Cape Breton Regional Library: https://cbrl.ca/services/library-card-application
Speaking and Listening:
Ask questions that get your child to express their opinion, like: What do you think? Why do you think that? Can you tell me more?
Talk to your child to build their knowledge and vocabulary. Explain things as you do them, such as home repairs, cooking, gardening, crafting, machine repairs and maintenance, etc.
Tell stories about your family, your childhood, your neighbourhood, your job.
Share family photos from the past and present. Have conversations about family members and make connections that are special to your family and members of your extended family.
Listen to podcasts or talk radio at home or in the car.
Writing and Representing:
Let your child see you writing and discuss how writing plays a role in your work and at home. Include both handwritten and digital tasks.
Involve your child in writing thank you notes, instructions, requests for donations, map directions, and shopping lists. Include drawings or diagrams where applicable.
Text or email your child for fun and to show how to communicate appropriately and clearly.