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Chapter 11: Building Reading Skills

Overview

This capstone chapter brings together all previously learned skills to develop independent reading abilities. Children will apply their knowledge of letters, sounds, and words to read simple texts on their own.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

  • Remember: Apply letter-sound knowledge automatically
  • Understand: Comprehend simple texts
  • Apply: Read emergent reader books independently
  • Create: Build and write simple words and sentences

Chapter Summary

This final chapter celebrates how far young readers have come! Children will apply all their skillsletter recognition, phonemic awareness, phonics, sight words, and fluencyto read simple books independently. This is where all the pieces come together for the joy of reading!

Concepts Covered (20)

Application Skills (10)

Concept Description
Word Creation Building words from sounds
Word Manipulation Changing words by changing letters
Word Recognition Knowing words when you see them
Spelling Patterns Common letter arrangements
Reading Strategies Ways to figure out words
Context Clues Using pictures and story to help
Self-Correction Fixing mistakes while reading
Rereading Reading again for understanding
Picture Support Using pictures to help read
Predicting Guessing what comes next

Capstone Skills (10)

Concept Description
Independent Reading Reading on your own
Emergent Reader A beginning reader
Emergent Text Simple books for beginners
Reading Comprehension Understanding what you read
Retelling Telling the story in your own words
Story Elements Characters, setting, events
Reading for Meaning Understanding the message
Reading Enjoyment Finding pleasure in reading
Book Selection Choosing appropriate books
Reading Identity Seeing yourself as a reader

Key Vocabulary

  • Independent: Doing it by yourself
  • Comprehension: Understanding what you read
  • Emergent reader: Someone just learning to read
  • Retell: Tell the story again in your own words

Activities

  1. Independent Reading Time: Read self-selected books quietly
  2. Story Retelling: Share what happened in a book
  3. Word Building Games: Create words using letter tiles
  4. Reading Celebration: Share favorite books with the class
  5. Reading Goals: Set personal reading goals

Prerequisites

  • All previous chapters (1-10)

Congratulations!

You have completed Reading for Kindergarten! You are now an emergent reader ready for new reading adventures!

What's Next?

  • Continue reading every day
  • Try books with more words
  • Read to family and friends
  • Visit the library for new books
  • Keep practicing and growing as a reader!