Making Your Ramaz Student A Successful Reader: A Coffee Talk Recap

On Tuesday morning, Lower School literacy instructional coach Emily Zaken spoke with parents about reading pedagogy in grades K-4. The coffee talk highlighted the research-based shift in early reading instruction in kindergarten and first grade to a “Science of Reading” focus, including phonics and phonemic awareness, and the use of decodable books to strengthen early reading. In addition, Ms. Zaken spoke about the different models of reading instruction in the K-4 classrooms, which include mini-lessons matched to grade-level standards and small reading groups designed to meet students’ needs and reading goals. Ms. Zaken highlighted new interdisciplinary units of study, such as the fourth grade “Reading History” unit in which students have been learning how to research and take in different perspectives regarding the American Revolution. Lastly, the coffee talk included tips for parents regarding reading at home and building conversations with their children about their books!