GOALS FOR BEGINNING READERS

1. INDEPENDENT READING

Students will use all of the skills learned in kindergarten and 1st grade. They will now read and write alone or with little help from teachers or parents.

 

2.  INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF SIGHT WORDS

Students will know at least 200 sight words.

 

3.  DEVELOP GREATER PHONICS & DECODING SKILLS

Students will easily distinguish between short and long vowel sounds  when reading common one-syllable words.

• Students will decode regularly spelled two-syllable words with long vowels ( table, because, spider, open, and music).

•  They will recognize irregularly spelled words, also called “Tricky Words.”

 

4.  RECOGNIZE IRREGULAR WORDS

Irregular words or “tricky words” are words that have unusual letter sounds.

• Some sight words are irregular words.

• Students have to memorize how these words are

pronounced and spelled because they cannot be decoded.

• Examples of irregular words – was (not "wuz"), eye (not "i"), said (not "sed"), are (not "ar").

 

5.  INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF LETTER BLENDS

Students can easily pronounce different types of letter blends:

• Digraphs – are two letters that create a single sound. Students will read a greater assortment of words with digraphs at the beginning, middle and end of words:

(dragon, elephant, lamp)

 

• Students will also be familiar with digraphs containing vowels called “vowel teams:” (aid, moon, pie, boat, blue)

 

• Trigraphs – are 3 letters that create a single sound at the beginning, middle or end of words: (school, night, match)

       

      6.  INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF COMPOUND WORDS

A compound word is formed when two words are combined to make a new word:

(cup +cake = "cupcake" or sail + boat = "sailboat.")

  • Students will understand how to combine words and use them in a sentence.

 

     7.   INCREASED READING RATE

Students will read 90 words per minute easily and without rushing. This will help them to improve their fluency.

 

     8.  INCREASED FLUENCY

Students will read with greater fluency because their sight word vocabulary has increased.

• Students will be able to read more complex sentences.

• Some teachers may allow students to read chapter books.

 

9.  INCREASED COMPREHENSION

Students will read and comprehend new stories which will include more complex characters, dialogue, places, and situations.

• Students will be able to retell stories that explain the main message or lesson.

• They will describe how characters respond to events and challenges.

• Students will understand that different characters, narrators and authors tell stories from different points of view.

• Students will compare two or more versions of the  same story (Cinderella versus Ella Enchanted).

• Students will also begin to read stories which contain information instead of just for entertainment.

• They will also know the difference between a topic about civil rights as explained by a person versus a description in a text book.

• Students will learn to use a table of contents, glossary, website menus, and icons to find information.

• Students will be able to ask and answer questions about the five W’s — who, what, when, where, and why. They will show both understanding and an ability to find answers in a book’s printed text or illustrations.

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