Welcome to Mrs. Orazem’s 5-8 Reading Site

                      deborah_orazem@mvyps.org

Student Selection: Students are selected for targeted reading instruction based on standardized  testing results  such as the MCAS, the Gates MacGinitie Reading Test, and the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI), as well as teacher observations and recommendations.
  

Testing: The Gates MacGinitie Reading Test is given in early September every year for students in grades 5-8. Scores are tracked for each student year to year to measure student growth over time. This helps insure that all students are progressing and helps to indicate which students are in need of additional reading supports. The Scholastic Reading Inventory is given in mid October every year to students in grades 5-8. This gives us an opportunity to take another look at our students early in the year with an additional standardized test, after they have made the adjustment of getting back into school “mode”. This gives us a broad, multifaceted picture of a student’s reading ability, so that we are not relying solely on one single test.  This assessment is also given in early June each year for the same population, and allows us to measure growth within the year with the same assessment. Occasionally there are students who are tested with this instrument periodically through the course of the year in order to insure that they are receiving adequate supports.

Parent Tips:

•     Share the love of reading with your child by reading aloud with him or her. We are never too old to enjoy sharing a book.
•     Try to be a reading example. Children will think reading is worthwhile if they see family members reading every day.
•      Plan to set aside a time dedicated to reading with the TV off and the house quiet. One half hour every day can produce  dramatic results!       
  
•  Crossword puzzles are a highly effective way to build a large vocabulary.  They encourage flexible thinking, and help students recognize and use accurate spelling.  
  
• Scrabble is an engaging activity which will help to reinforce spelling skills.
•     Magazine subscriptions make wonderful gifts. Children love to    receive these in the mail and they can give your student extra                 information on their favorite  outside interests.
•     Subscribe to a daily newspaper and share articles and news with your student. This can help enliven dinner discussions and help your student consider issues beyond our island borders.
•     Try learning one new word from the dictionary or thesaurus every evening at super time and try to incorporate it into regular conversations. This is a fabulous way to increase and stretch word usage. Families that have put this into regular practice report back that it is fun and beneficial for the entire family.
•     Make sure your student has his or her own town library card and plan regular visits. You will find that the library is an amazing resource and a wonderful way to reinforce the message that reading is rewarding. 
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• "You can never quit.  Quitters never win and winners never quit!" -Ted Turner

Summer Reading:  Summer reading is very important for our students. It is an opportunity for students to follow their own interests by self selecting titles while helping to expand their thinking and maintain important reading skills over the summer break. Students who read a lot over the summer are able to return to school with strong skills, ready to begin and move ahead during the new school year.
Although your student may not voluntarily read during these months, parental encouragement can make this happen. It is strongly recommended that you expect that your student will read every day for a minimum of one half hour.

These web pages are sure to provide support in the areas of vocabulary growth and comprehension skills:
eduplace.com
timeforkids.com
bookadventure.org

Suggested Favorite Authors:

 Spinelli, Gordon Korman, Avi, DeFelice, Paulsen, Peck, Fleschman, Amato, Gantos, Lemony Snicket, DiCamillo, Haddix, Funke, Lasky, Sharon Draper, Catherine Rhees, Anthony Horwitz, Robert Horwitz.... and so many more.

Talk with the LA teachers, the librarian, or Mrs. Orazem for more ideas. Using the Scholastic program, we can also make up specific reading lists tailored to individual interests and reading lexile levels from the Scholastic Reading Inventory assessment.

The Spelling Bee: Classrooms in grades 4-8 have a spelling bee during early February each year. Winners from each classroom (grades 4-8) then compete at the Edgartown School Spelling Bee in mid February. The Champion of the Edgartown School Spelling Bee has his or her name inscribed on our school plaque which is hung in the hallway. The winner goes on to represent Edgartown School in the All Island Spelling Bee competition that is held in March. The champion of this Bee is awarded a trip to Washington D.C. in the spring for an opportunity to compete on a national level. The ability to spell is very important skill, as our ability to express ourselves, write clearly, and be masters of vocabulary and language has everything to do with being able to communicate clearly.

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

- Thomas Edison