-
IRLA
The GLP teachers use the reading framework IRLA (Independent Reading Level Assessment) developed by the American Reading Company to assess children's current reading levels and determine instructional paths. The data provided by IRLA assessments tells the teacher where a student is currently reading, what skills they are secure in at that reading level, and provides a sequence of skills/behaviors the student needs to learn in order to continue to grow as a reader. Families can assist their child in making strides in their independent reading abilities by reviewing power words, reading and logging IRLA reading steps daily at home and encouraging and praising your child's efforts in reading.
POWER WORDS
WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY DOES MY CHILD NEED TO KNOW THEM?
“Power Words” (also known as Dolch words, Fry words, popcorn words, and high frequency words) are a set of frequently occurring words that children are encouraged to recognize and read automatically (within 3 seconds). These words make up 50-75% of the words included in children’s books.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT CHILDREN MEMORIZE SIGHT WORDS?
Learning to recognize sight words quickly and accurately leads to greater oral reading fluency and allows the reader to focus on more challenging words encountered while reading. Improving fluency has a positive impact on reading comprehension as well as boosting self- confidence and increasing motivation to read independently.
WHICH WORDS SHOULD MY CHILD BE PRACTICING?
At the kindergarten level, it is the goal for students to be secure in recognizing all words from the 1G List of Power Words, all words from the 2G List of Power Words and all words from the 2G Category Word List by the end of the kindergarten school year. The Power Word lists can be accessed by clicking the links below.
IRLA READING LOGS
WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO I FILL THEM OUT?
IRLA Reading Logs are used to keep track of the amount of time your child spends reading each day. Our goal is that every child log a 30 minutes of reading at school and 30 minutes of reading at home each day. The reading can be broken into smaller blocks of time (15 minutes is ideal). Here is what reading may look like at home:
1. Your child can read the pictures.
2. Your child can read the words.
3. Your child can make up a story to go along with the pictures.
4. You read a story to your child.
Each time your child completes 15 minutes of reading, it equals 1 step on the IRLA reading log. (It is important to remember that steps are not logged by the number of books read but rather by the number of minutes spent reading).
1 step = 15 minutes of reading
On the reading log, for every one step completed at home, one house is circled, dated, and initialed by the parent. The goal is to circle two houses each night (30 minutes of at home reading). Reading logs should be sent back and forth to school. We will also log reading steps at school. Each time your child completes 100 reading steps, they earn a reading medal!! The names of medal winners are read over the morning announcements. It is very exciting to hear the names of friends and relatives as they are announced for their success in reading!
