OVERVIEW 

The Reading Rope is a simple way to understand how a child learns to read. It's a foundational concept within the science of reading, created by literacy expert Dr. Hollis Scarborough, and serves as a helpful image for parents and teachers. Think of it as a real rope made of many smaller strands that are all woven together. Reading isn't just one skill; it's a combination of many.

The rope has two main parts:

• Word Recognition: This is about figuring out the words on a page. It includes skills like sounding out words and recognizing them instantly.

• Language Comprehension: This is about understanding what those words mean. It includes skills like having a good vocabulary and understanding the topic you're reading about.

When all the strands of the Reading Rope are strong and woven together, a child can become a skilled, fluent reader. This is the core principle of our literacy program at Woburn Public Schools. Our comprehensive Literacy Block, used at every grade level, is designed with multiple programs to address each and every one of these vital components.

In kindergarten, your child will begin their journey to become a reader and writer. They will learn foundational skills that will prepare them for future learning.

Reading

Students will work with two main types of texts:

• Stories (Narrative): Your child will learn to retell stories and identify important parts like the characters, setting, and main events. They will also discover how illustrations help tell a story and begin to understand the life lessons or themes in a book.

• Informational Texts (Expository): Your child will be introduced to nonfiction books, learning to find facts and answer questions about key details. They will also learn why authors write about real-life topics and how illustrations help explain the information.

Writing

Students will use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to tell their own stories and share their ideas. They will focus on three types of writing:

• Stories (Narrative): Your child will use pictures and words to tell a story about an experience they've had, making sure the events are in the right order.

• Informational (Expository): They will learn to write about a topic and provide some basic information about it.

• Opinion: Your child will write about a book or topic they like and share their opinion with a reader.

Throughout the year, your child will also build their language skills by learning to use complete sentences, ask questions, and practice writing upper- and lowercase letters.

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

• Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin

• Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

• ABC's of Kindness by Samantha Berger

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

• The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

• Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

• The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

• Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola

• Where's the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

• Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall

• A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

• The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

• The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

• Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

• Where's My Stuff? by Mike Lowery

• A New Kind of Wild by Kim Smith

• This Is My Home, This Is My School by Jonathan Bean

• The Little Red House by Margaret Wise Brown

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman

• National Geographic Readers: Bears by Elizabeth Carney

• Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• The Little Bitty Spider by Sheri Spohn

• Bugs, Bugs, Bugs! by Jennifer D'Amato

• Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbons

• How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan

• My Five Senses by Aliki

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• Red Is Best by Kathy Stinson

• I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

• I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black

• Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems

• Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Suggested Books to Read at Home

• A Whale Is Not a Fish by Helen Cowcher

• Animals, Animals, Animals! by Judith Cole

• The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich

• I Am a Big Kid Now by David M. Schwartz

• A House Is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman