Early education instructors frequently use what is called a guided reading curriculum to help develop a child’s basic reading skills and teach them reading techniques.  Each level of this program has a set of books which are designed to impart specific skills, based on the child’s age and abilities.  Parents can get a comprehensive list of these books from the teacher, so that they can work with their child outside the classroom.

Program for Kindergarteners

Success in reading begins at an early age, and many of the necessary skills are a part of the guided reading curriculum used with kindergarteners.  The children are taught basic reading skills, which can be built upon as they become ready to learn more advances skills and techniques.  The books used in this type of program are made up of short sentences, often composed of just two or three words.  Thinking back to your own childhood, you may remember sentences or stories such as “See Spot Run.”  Even though these classic titles are old, they are still popular favorites in kindergarten classrooms.

One important skill that is taught during the kindergarten guided reading curriculum is the different sounds of letters.  Learning the sounds that vowels and consonants make, as well as the combinations when they are put together, helps the child sound out new words that they encounter.  By learning these types of skills during kindergarten, the children can become successful readers later in life.Being taught effective reading skills during kindergarten can have a direct impact upon their reading and study skills later in life.

Program for First Graders

As the child advances from kindergarten to first grade, the reading program that they follow will likewise become more advanced.  Instead of focusing on simple sounds and individual words, students begin to identify nouns and verbs and see words in larger groups.  The skills that the child has already acquired are developed as they read more complicated books.  The selection of books have more complex stories, as the children are becoming better able to understand plots and character interactions.

Program for Second Graders

Reading comprehension improves dramatically as students move into the second grade.  These young readers will follow a guided reading curriculum that reflects that advancement.  Students begin to answer questions about the protagonist and antagonist of their stories, which are progressing towards short chapter books.  The children are not only more capable of understanding complex stories.  They are also better at retaining the information after they leave the classroom, so parents can engage them at home about what they read at school.

Parents who take an active role in the guided reading curriculum will not only be spending more time bonding with their child, they will be helping to improve their reading comprehension.  Contact your child’s teacher to get a comprehensive list of the books available for their level.  The time spent reading together will create beautiful memories for both of you.

I’m addicted.  Is this a bad thing? I absolutely MUST get some laughs in every day. Lately, I’ve been enjoying laughs between 11:00 pm and 12:00 pm watching my favorite TV comedy sitcom.  You would think, at this time of day, I would have complete freedom to just sit and have a good laugh.  I can’t believe it when my 18 year old daughter gives me one word answers to my friendly questions during the day (in other words mostly ignores me) then thinks nothing of dropping major bombshells on me during my sacred time of humour.

–         11:10 pm – Mom, I have to have $250 no later than 9:00 am in the morning to pay for the deposit on that course at University. I respond –  Huh? What course are you talking about and when did you tell me about this?

–         11:20 pm – Mom, I have a lump the size of a golf ball on my leg.  It’s been there for months.  My boyfriend’s Mother has a hernia and she has the same symptom and now I’m worried so I’m leaving immediately and I’m going to the hospital emergency department. I respond – WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? – Why didn’t you go to a clinic during the day? Why haven’t I heard about this before?

–         11:30 pm – Mom, my boyfriend just doesn’t understand me and we had a big fight two days ago and now all of our friends are taking his side and no one loves or respects me (tears flowing) – I respond – Mute the TV and while continually glancing at it I try to find some sympathy and understanding for this problem that I have heard so many times over and over during the years

–         11:40 pm – Mom, I’m starting a new diet tomorrow and here is a list of all the foods that I will need starting with breakfast in the morning plus I’m buying a juicer for my diet. It costs $200.  Can you help me pay for it?  I respond – PLEASE can we please talk about this tomorrow?

–         11:50 pm – Mom, I have to have a full length, black evening dress, with sleeves, for my Choir concert on Friday night.  When can we go shopping for it?  Oh, and my car has been making a banging noise for the last week or so.  It’s getting really bad – what should we do about it?  I respond – Why didn’t you tell me these things before, like all day today or yesterday or the day before, when I wasn’t indulging in my very best hobby of humour?

I have read that laughter relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, ulcers and even arthritis.   I’ve also read that laughter decreases stress hormones while producing a general sense of well-being.  Remember the saying “laughter is the best medicine”? Humour is one of the most powerful tools that we can use to heal ourselves and reduce tension in our lives while building bonds and creating rapport with others. 

Considering I live with a teenager, humour could be a necessity in my life irrespective of my desire for it.  Do you have a good sense of humour and the ability to laugh at stressful situations? If so, these qualities will go a long way in helping to mitigate the damaging physical effects that distressing emotions may cause.  These days I fight the gray hair, wrinkles and teenage bombshells in whatever way that I can.  This includes good quality supplements, lots of physical activity and, my favorite, a daily dose of laughter.