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What is The Home Reading Connection?

 Why Do Home Reading?

How Does It Work? ~ My Home Reading Contract

What is The Home Reading Connection?

In January 1998, I began a highly successful Home Reading Connection program in my K-1 classroom. By using books I already had available, and by adding judiciously to my collection, I built a set of leveled books based on the Reading Recovery program of leveled reading instruction. My program allows each child to self-select a book at their independent reading level 4 times per week, and take it home to read to their family. Children who participate fully in the program have the potential to read in excess of 150 books at home during the school year, and to earn up to 8 free books from me as a reward for reading at home.
 

Why Home Reading?

The typical student in my classroom comes from a home with few, if any, children’s books. Some of my students have parents with limited literacy or parents for whom English is a second language, so their parents have not read to them on a regular basis, and might not be comfortable reading to them now.

Additionally, books that are appropriate for independent reading – the level at which a child can best practice their reading skills to build fluency – are hard to find in bookstores, toy stores, and libraries, making it difficult for parents to find suitable books for their developing readers. The most significant feature of The Home Reading Connection is that the children bring home books that they can read to their families.

Because the children select books they can read independently, the parent is not required to give reading instruction.  Instead, the parent listens to the child read, providing encouragement and additional skills practice, while fostering a love of books in their child.

Research has proven that reading at home greatly accelerates the acquisition of reading skills, and shows a strong connection between independent reading and developing reading skills that lead to fluency. Providing appropriately leveled books for independent Home Reading allows the children the opportunity for multiple readings of the same text, which is vital to developing automaticity and fluency, as well as increased comprehension and a love of reading.
 
 

Home Reading Contract / Letter of Consent

Dear Families:

I have a special program in my classroom that I am very excited about, as it helps each and every child to become a better reader. As you already know, learning to read takes lots of practice, and we can’t do it all at school without your help. In just 15 minutes per day, you can help your child by listening to them read to you and by reading to him or her daily.

Reading is the key to your child’s success in school. Good readers enjoy books and do well in their schoolwork. Whether your child is just beginning to learn the letter sounds and names, is reading a few sight words, or is already reading books and stories, Home Reading will allow him or her to greatly improve their reading skills. Participation in my Home Reading Program is voluntary, and all students are eligible to take part in this terrific activity. My only requirements are that children have a backpack to carry the books to and from school, and that they demonstrate responsibility in the classroom and on the playground.

Here’s how my Home Reading Program works:

1. Every Monday through Thursday, your child will select a book at their independent reading level, and bring it home in a manila envelope. You will listen to your child read the book to you several times that evening, giving them encouragement and praise. Multiple readings build skills, comprehension, and fluency. You and your child will spend approximately 15 minutes together each night reading the book they chose.

2. Before reading the book, look at the pictures and discuss what the book is about. (Even adults usually know what a book is about before they read it. That’s why they print a brief explanation on the back of novels and other books).

If your child is a beginning reader, you should ask them if they know any of the words in the book. Always praise their attempts: for example, if the word is "pretty" but they say "park," tell them that both words start with "p" and encourage them to look further into the word and use the letter sounds to try to figure out the word. Children should also be encouraged to use other clues for figuring out words, such as pictures or the meaning of the sentence. Your main job is to ENCOURAGE your new reader and give them the confidence that they CAN and DO read, at whatever level is appropriate. This has to be a positive experience for the child. If your child isn’t ready to read at home daily, we’ll stop and try again at another time when they are more ready.

3. Write the title of the book on the front of the envelope, and sign your name.

4. Return the book in the envelope the next day. Your child will then read the book at school with the teacher or another adult. The children get a sticker on their personal incentive chart for being responsible and returning the book. They also get to select another book to bring home. Sometimes they may bring home the same book, for further practice. If a child frequently forgets to return their book, they may not be ready for Home Reading. We can try again at a later date, when they are ready for more responsibility.

5. Please take very good care of these books. The books we will be using belong to me personally, and have been purchased with my own money. Many children will use these books, and they are not easy to replace. If the book is damaged or lost, I will ask for a replacement fee of $4.00 per book. Your child will not bring any more books home until the fee is paid.

6. Each time your child has read 20 books and recorded them on their incentive chart, I will give them a new book of their choice to keep, as a gift from me to encourage their good reading habits.

7. You and your child need to discuss this plan before committing to it. If you both agree that the time is right to spend about 15 minutes each day reading, please complete and return only the bottom portion of this letter.

HAPPY READING!

Mrs. Smith
-------------------------------- cut here and return ------------------------------------------

YES! My child ______(name goes here)________________________ is ready to read about 15 minutes with me each night. We will take full responsibility for the books sent home and will pay a replacement fee of $4.00 for any book that is lost or damaged.

_____________________________     ______________     _________________
Parent's Signature                                       Date                         Phone Number

_____________________________
Student’s Signature
 
 

That's all there is to it!  It's a terrific program, it's easy to set up and administer, and it lets you give individualized reading instruction to each child on a daily basis. Please feel free to copy my contract or adapt it to your own needs.

If you have any questions, please send me a note.

Happy Teaching!

Victoria

Looking for more ideas?

My bookstore pages have lots of information on how I use various materials in my classroom, and on activities you can do with your students.  The thematic pages are complete unit resources, with lots of poems, songs, and links on each page.  Make yourself comfortable and take a look around!

Choose from the categories below.
Underlined subjects are links, the other ones are coming soon!

Top 10 Must Have Books for Teachers	Phonics & Phonemic Awareness	Integrated Curriculum & Balanced Literacy	Reproducible Mini Books for Emergent Readers	Pat Cunningham Books & 4 Blocks Books	Writing & Writer's Workshop
Reading & Guided Reading	How to Level Trade Books and others	Pocket Chart Resources	Songs and Poems		Back to School
Marvelous Math Books		Read It! Draw It! Solve It!	101 Literacy & Math Centers	What's In A Name?	Literature for Math
Friends	Family Math	I Love My ABC's	Monthly Themes	Math Their Way	Birthdays
Bears Everywhere	Down on the Farm		Rain Forest	Going Buggy!
Spring Has Sprung!		Come Into Our Garden	A Camping We Will Go!	Under the Sea	A Rainbow of Colors
Graphing  Topics	I Lost A Tooth!	Author Studies		Me & My Family	Harvest Time
	Snowmen & Mittens		Special Books for Special People reading for pleasure		Scarecrows
Coming Soon!		Nursery Rhymes		Bats & Spiders