Dear Parents,

Early reading and writing skills are necessary for lifelong success. Proficient readers open doors to opportunities that last a lifetime. Developing proficient reading skills is an important goal at Runyon. We view all students as learners and capable of continuously achieving.

The Early Intervention Reading program supplements reading and writing instruction for identified students in kindergarten through third grade. In August, numerous reading assessments are administered to individual students by Jane Coulter, Literacy Specialist. Students found reading below grade level are identified and small groups are created. Our lessons are developed to meet the individual's literacy needs. Lessons may include phonemic awareness, word attack strategies, comprehension skills, vocabulary development, and writing skills. We often implement an Orton-Gillingham reading approach to strengthen our students' ability to learn sounds and decode new words. Parents are notified if their child qualifies for additional literacy support and permission slips are sent home before groups begin in September.

If you have questions, please contact Jane Coulter by email:jcoulter[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us or by phone: 303-347-4850.

To find your child's grade curriculum please select the link below.
Kindergarten Curriculum Highlights Link
First Grade Curriculum Highlights Link
Second Grade Curriculum Highlights Link
Third Grade Curriculum Highlights Link
Fourth Grade Curriculum Highlights Link
Fifth Grade Curriculum Highlights Link

• If they loved the movie, introduce them to the book.  Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Babe are among the many family movies based on terrific children's books. Check out one of them from the library and read it together. Your kids will delight in dicovering some great parts that didn't appear in the move.
• Go surfing. The Internet offers a limitless supply of interesting reading, some of which is bound to appeal to your chld. Go online together at home or at the local library and search for Web sites on your favorite hobbies, sports, movies, pets, travel destinations, or other areas of interest.
• Join the club. Many community libraries offer summer reading programs. Bemis Public Library has an excellent one! In fact, you'll see me there often! Children enjoy participating in these programs by keeping track of their progress and celebrating their reading goals.
• Go beyond the comics. When you're reading newspapers and magazines, cut out interesting articles for your children to read. Occasionally attach a note posing a question about an article, or passing along some related information.
• Lighten up. A steady diet of serious books can turn a child off. Ask your librarian to recommend some lighter reading. When you're browsing for children's books, look for funny titles or illustrations. Joke books are fun, too.
• Read magazines. Magazines can be stuffed in a pool bag or backpack and are great for summer reading. Subscribe to a magazine that fits your child's age and interests. Look for used kids' magazines at garage sales and promote magazine swapping with your child's buddies.
• Build it, try it, make it. From magic tricks to jewelry making, from science experiments to models cars, there's bound to be a how-to-book at your local library that will inspire your child to begin a project. Have him or her read the instructions, prepare a list of materials, and then, with your supervision, go to it! Whatever the result, remember to praise the effort.
• Figure it out. Vary your child's reading by including some kid-oriented crossword puzzles, word searches or word jumbles once or twice a week.
• Be flexible. Maybe you would like your children to read classic books all summer, but it's important to let them choose their own recreational reading. Float the plots of your favorite books past them, and if they're interested, terrific! Otherwise, consider saving those books for when you're reading together.
• Out and about. Believe it or not, shopping can help your children become stronger readers. Use everyday or special occasion shopping trips to help build your child's vocabulary by introducing new words, like "broccoli" at the grocery store or "commemorative" at the post office.
• Are we there yet? Whether you spend the summer close to home or have a major family trip planned, try to include an educational side trip to a museum, historic site, or national park. Read up on it together before you go. While you're there, pick up descriptive brochures, flyers, or other material that will not only make your visit more meaningful, but will provide meaty reading for your child
• Look it up. If your children ask questions you can't explain, go together to look up the answers in what ever resources are available - dictionary, encyclopedia, field guide, or Internet. Tell them when you're curious about something, like the name of an animal you've seen while walking together, and help them look it up.
• Set an example. The best way to keep your children reading all summer long is for you to be a reader yourself. Make time for books. Talk about interesting things you've read and make the the library a more frequent stop than the video store. Do it as much for yourself as for your children.