The Reading Connection
The purpose of this project is to give both the high school and kindergarten students opportunities to practice reading in a fun and nurturing way as well as to develop character. The older students are to plan their lessons in their Speech and Language Class.The high school teacher gives them assignments/ written instructions weekly on what is to be covered on their next visit. They would model reading strategies by “thinking aloud,” work on decoding words, and have younger students point to the title, words and eventually read with the older student. Eventually, the lessons will incorporate character traits by having the older students chose books which has a theme. Later, the young students can read the books of their choice. The older students make up their own stories incorporating a character trait theme and make their own books. And the kindergarteners also, at the end of the second semester, will make up their own character trait stories and drawings. The project enhances their reading and writing abilities, as well as develops positive, caring attitutes toward one another.