Reading Explorer 1

Synopsis

Reading Explorer, a six-level reading series, prepares learners for academic success with highly visual, motivating National Geographic content that features real people, places, and stories.

Summary

Chapter 1: Getting Started

* Introduces the basic concepts of reading, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
* Provides tips for reading aloud to children, such as using different voices, reading with expression, and asking questions to engage them.
* Example: Read aloud a story to your child, pointing out the first sound of each word in a sentence to improve phonemic awareness.

Chapter 2: Sounding Out Words

* Focuses on developing phonics skills, including letter recognition, blending sounds, and decoding words.
* Introduces strategies for decoding unfamiliar words, such as using context clues and breaking down words into smaller parts.
* Example: Write the word "cat" on a whiteboard. Have your child sound out each letter and blend them together to read the word.

Chapter 3: Building Vocabulary

* Emphasizes the importance of expanding vocabulary through reading and other experiences.
* Teaches strategies for learning new words, such as using context clues, looking up words in a dictionary, and playing vocabulary games.
* Example: Read a story to your child and pause to explain unfamiliar words like "scampered" or "precipice."

Chapter 4: Reading Fluently

* Covers the skills needed for fluent reading, such as phrasing, pacing, and expression.
* Provides exercises to improve fluency, such as repeated reading and choral reading.
* Example: Have your child read a paragraph out loud, focusing on reading at a natural pace and using appropriate pauses and inflection.

Chapter 5: Understanding What You Read

* Focuses on developing comprehension skills, such as making predictions, inferencing, and summarizing.
* Introduces strategies for answering comprehension questions and extracting information from texts.
* Example: Read a short story to your child and ask questions to check their understanding, such as "Who is the main character?" or "What happened at the beginning of the story?"

Chapter 6: Reading for Fun

* Discusses the benefits of reading for enjoyment and introduces different types of reading materials.
* Provides tips for choosing books that are appropriate for your child's interest and reading level.
* Example: Visit your local library with your child and let them choose a book that appeals to their interests, such as a fairy tale or an adventure story.

Chapter 7: Going Beyond the Book

* Explores ways to extend reading experiences beyond the text itself.
* Introduces activities such as discussing the book, creating artwork inspired by the story, or writing a book report.
* Example: After reading a story about a rainforest, have your child make a poster showcasing the different animals and plants that live there.