A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Attached is your child's first School-Home Links activity. Please go through this activity with your child. If your child is young, you may need to read the activity and help your child fill in the necessary information. If your child is older, encourage your child to read the activity and work on it with your involvement. When your child finishes the activity, please have your child sign the bottom of the page. We would like you to sign the paper also to show that you have gone over the activity with your child.

Later this week, we will begin a new program for our students called Book Links. The program will work as follows:

• Once a week, your child will choose a book to read from our classroom library, the school library, or your local library.

• If your child takes a book from school, your child will sign a book check-out card and put it in our class' Book Links check-out chart. He or she will put the book in a resealable plastic bag to take home.

• Your child will read the book at home with you, complete the Book Links activity sheet that goes with the book, and bring the book back to school the next day in a plastic bag.

The book may be one your child has heard before in class. Whether your child has heard the story before or not, he or she should read the book to or with you. You will need to read some of the books to your child, particularly if your child is just learning to read. Many people at home can be part of this book sharing by listening to or reading the stories with your child.

When reading with your child, please remember to:

• Introduce the book before you read it by letting your child flip through the pages--left to right--to look at the pictures.
  
• Ask your child to describe the beginning, middle, and end of the story after you read it together.
  
• Ask your child if he or she enjoyed the story and why. Talk about your favorite parts of the story and interesting characters.

Your child is responsible for the care of the borrowed book. Books should not be written in or torn. If a book is lost or damaged, the family is responsible for replacing the book. A child will not be allowed to borrow a new book until the first book is returned or replaced.

As you can see, we need your support and assistance to help your child continue learning to read, listen, and comprehend, as well as to become a responsible book borrower.

Finally, please remember to visit your public library's Children's Book Department to get a library card (if your child does not already have one), borrow, and read other books with your child.

Have fun reading!

Sincerely,

Mr. Bookman, First-Grade Teacher

[Step 3: Put Your Compact for Reading to Work]