Reading Lesson: Practice - Beginning of School Year
Objective
Students will enhance their reading skills by engaging with texts related to the beginning of the school year. They will practice recognizing sight words, improving phonemic awareness, and developing comprehension through interactive activities.
Materials Needed
- Picture books about the first day of school (e.g., "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn)
- Large chart paper and markers
- Index cards with sight words
- Coloring supplies (crayons, markers)
- A puppet or stuffed animal for storytelling
Activity Overview
1. Story Time (15 minutes)
Begin with a read-aloud session of a picture book related to the theme of starting school. Choose a story that exemplifies feelings, expectations, and experiences of the first day.
- Encourage students to listen carefully and visualize the scenes.
- Ask guiding questions during reading (e.g., "How do you think the character feels?" or "What do you think will happen next?").
2. Sight Word Hunt (10 minutes)
After the story, transition to a sight word activity.
- Step 1: Introduce 5-10 sight words from the story (e.g., school, friend, happy, see, play).
- Step 2: Scatter index cards with the sight words around the classroom.
- Step 3: Give each student a chance to find a card, read it aloud, and then share a sentence using that word related to school.
3. Group Collaboration: Chart the Feelings (15 minutes)
Create a visual representation of how students feel about the new school year.
- Step 1: Gather students in a circle and discuss their feelings.
- Step 2: On a large chart paper, list words associated with their feelings (happy, excited, nervous, etc.).
- Step 3: Encourage students to draw their expressions or what makes them feel good about school around the words you wrote down.
4. Puppet Story Retelling (10 minutes)
Use a puppet or stuffed animal to help retell the story.
- This activity helps reinforce comprehension and encourages oral language development.
- Students can take turns using the puppet to act out different parts or express what they learned from the story.
Conclusion
Wrap up the practice session by encouraging students to share their favorite part of the story and a word they learned. Reinforce the importance of reading as a way to explore new ideas and feelings about their experiences in school.
Assessment
- Observe student participation in the sight word hunt and group collaboration.
- Listen for correct pronunciation and usage of sight words.
- Evaluate students’ ability to articulate their feelings and understanding of the story during the puppet retelling.
This practice session combines listening, speaking, reading, and writing, ensuring a holistic approach to literacy while embracing the excitement of the new school year!