Reading

Our Literacy program is HMH's Into Reading series.

We will explore our world through a variety of materials and practices:

  • BIG books

  • trade books

  • online materials

  • publisher provided materials

  • whole group instruction

  • small differentiated groups

  • one on one instruction

  • independent learning time

The Literacy units we explore in Kindergarten...

  • Curious About Kindergarten

  • There’s Only One Me!

  • My Community Heroes

  • Happy Healthy Me

  • I Can Do It!

  • Home of the Free and the Brave

  • Zoom In!

  • From Plant to Plate

  • Animal Habitats

Reading Homework

We want all children to be the best readers they can be, therefore we have Reading Homework each night for 15-20 minutes.

Beginning in October, your child will receive a Reading folder containing a select number of books at your child's level, and one book that they self selected.

Each month your child will receive a Reading Calendar to be returned at the beginning of the following month for a special surprise.

What can you do at home? See below!

Things to Do at Home

  • Read, Read, Read at home with AND to your child

  • Have your child read word by word, pointing with his/her finger

  • Make word cards and practice familiar sight words

  • Try to sound out the word using correct letter sounds

  • Come back to that word (Leap Frog Strategy)

  • Find a part of that word you know (Puzzle Strategy)

  • Put in a word that makes sense or sounds right (Think Strategy)

  • Use the pictures to help you figure out the word (Picture Clue Strategy)

  • Start over at the beginning of the sentence (Running Start Strategy)

  • Try the first letter; slide through to the end of the word (Ready, Say, Slide Strategy)

What to say besides “Sound it out”

Research shows that sounding out words is one clue to solving unknown words, but that good readers use a variety of clues to read. Coaching a child to use only one type of clue may teach him or her to ignore the other clues. If you pay close attention while your child is reading, you may get a glimpse into clues he or she uses or ignores. Follow the text with your child and try to ask questions that will encourage him or her to problem-solve while reading. When he or she gets stuck, try asking:


  • Is there a part of that word you know? (Puzzle Strategy)

  • What word makes sense or sounds right there? (Think Strategy)

  • Is there something in the picture that can help you figure out that word? (Picture Clue Strategy)

  • Could you start over at the beginning of the sentence? (Running Start Strategy)

  • Have you tried the first letter? Slide through to the end of the word. (Ready, Say, Slide Strategy)

  • Can you go on and come back to that word? (Leap Frog Strategy)

How to help your child build

Reading Comprehension


  • Do a picture walk and predict what the book will be about before reading it.

  • Encourage your child to re-read sections or sentences that do not make sense.

  • After reading, have your child retell the story in his/her own words.

  • Engage your child in a discussion about the book. Ask probing questions!

  • After reading fiction books, discuss characters, setting, events, problems and solutions from the book.

  • After reading non-fiction books, discuss the new information your child learned about the topic.

  • Help your child relate what he/she read about to personal experiences and/or previously acquired information. Does it remind them of another book or character?

Try the word and then ask three questions:

Does it look right?

Does it sound right?

Does it make sense?