The TDSB Homework Policy (found in the Parent Connection section of this website) recommends that primary students read every night for a minimum of 10 minutes, and junior students for a minimum of 20 minutes. Encourage your children to read books at their level or slightly higher. It is beneficial if students read a variety of texts (website books, newspapers, graphic novels, comics, story books, non-fiction informational books, poems, magazines, etc.)
What Can I Do as A Parent to Help My Child When They Read at Home?
Before Reading:
Ask your primary grade children to make a prediction (guess) about a book they are about to read based on the title or cover illustration. Junior level children can make a prediction about the next chapter in their novel (based on the cover illustration, the teaser on the back of the novel, etc.)
During Reading:
- Sound out the word, and re-check the beginning, end and middle sounds.
- Stop and re-read the sentence or just continue reading.
- Look for clues, such as pictures or smaller words inside the longer words.
After Reading:
- Ask children what type of text they are reading (ex. fiction or non-fiction).
- Ask about the setting, characters, conflict and solution.
- For informational texts, ask what key facts or important information they have learned.
Literacy Websites Recommended by Teachers at Anson Taylor
This site is made up of hundreds of up-to-date newspaper articles from our daily newspaper, but the articles have been modified into child-friendly language. Children can read about topics like endangered animals, how the Raptors are doing, or what's new in Toronto politics.
This website is great for early readers and for early mathematicians. Students can start by learning about sounds and progress to reading along with online books that can read to your child. Students can practise vowel sounds and sight words to build vocabulary. In Math, students can learn number songs, practise their basic number facts, and review their shapes in the geometry section. Colours are another area of focus.
This website supports a wide range of literacy skills development across the curriculum for primary learners. Students can enhance their understanding of the Science, Social Studies and Language curriculum by navigating their way through fun, interactive reading, writing and comprehension exercises.
Also recommended is www.knowledgeadventure.com For Kindergarten to Gr. 6 students
This site has won several national awards for its extensive alphabetical list of innovative game options categorized by grade, subject and age. Students can select from activities such as crossword puzzles, word scrambles, spelling challenges, letter recognition and basic keyboarding exercises to support their language development.
Other language favourites include: