HIGHLIGHTS: READING GUIDE…A NOTE FROM MARJIE: THE DOTS AND DASH STRATEGY…CANADA BOOK DAY…STUCK ON STICKERS

READING GUIDE

Even though the science of reading is top of mind these days reading a good storybook and having fun during VRP is still the most valuable tool to engage happy little imaginations!  Why not try a funny character voice like Kate Winslet does in this covid-era YouTube reading of Green Eggs and Ham?  For more tips remember to refer to the VRP Reading Guide in the VRP folders.

A NOTE FROM MARJIE: The Dots and Dashes Strategy

I found this strategy on the “Anna the Measured Mom” website. It’s a great place to look for information about reading. I’ve mentioned this before and I highly recommend her book, “Reach All Readers” Anna Geiger.

This is how the "dots and dashes" strategy works:

1. Display a word you want students to decode.

2. Put a dot under each single-letter sound as you and your students say it together.

3. Add a dash under any graphemes that have multiple letters (like sh or ch).

4. Draw a line under the whole word as you blend the sounds together.

For example, take the word "FISH":

• Dot under F (/fff/)

• Dot under I (/iii/)

• Dash under SH (/sh/)

• Line under FISH as you blend it all together

I’m going to try this on the whiteboard the next time I’m reading with our little readers.

Marjie Calla

VRP Director, Education

CANADA BOOK DAY

April 23rd is the day for celebrating Canadian literature and reading.  Dedicate April 23rd to reading an encourage friends, family and of course the children of VRP to do so too.  The website for this event suggests “Celebrate by picking a new book to read or by reading a book to a child.”  Hooray for the volunteers of VRP!

STUCK ON STICKERS

Sometimes volunteers want to offer a special reward to the children for all of the effort they make during a VRP session.  When VRP started in 2009 many different ideas were tested and ultimately the one that caused the least ripples in the classroom (for the teacher) and still made the children grin ear to ear was stickers.  This is why we have stuck with stickers all these years.  Giving extra incentives isn’t fair to the other children so VRP asks that volunteers don't start offering gifts and prizes beyond VRP supplied stickers.  Keep in mind there is no limit to high-fives and positive feedback; and your words of encouragement plus the 1-1 attention is a huge reward in and of itself.  Remember, every child who reads with VRP receives a gift book and personalized certificate at the year-end celebration as special recognition for what they achieved in the program.