C.A.F.E.

This week the students were introduced to the C.A.F.E. menu during reading.  C.A.F.E. is an acronym for comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expanding vocabulary.   Whenever we go out to a restaurant, we look at a menu that contains many different types of drinks and food to order.  Usually we order a drink to quench our thirst and something yummy to eat to satisfy our hunger.  Well, when we read, we should be picking items from the C.A.F.E. menu that will help us become the best readers possible.  This week, we focused on the "C" for comprehension.  The students learned the importance of stopping every few pages to "Check for Understanding".  The students met "Mr. Check-In"  to help them remember what types of questions they can ask as they are reading to monitor their comprehension.  If they aren't able to retell or explain what they read, they should go back and re-read.  Your child should have "Mr. Check-In" in their Take Home folder.  Please encourage them to use him at home to help them monitor their comprehension.  Comprehension will be a major area of focus throughout the year due to the increasing importance of having a deeper understanding of what we are reading.  We also focused on the comprehension strategy of "Making Connections" while reading.  This is where the students connect something they read to another book, their life, or to the world.  Making connections helps students better understand the book and how the characters feel within the story.  Next week the students will learn about some of the choices under the "F" that will help them become more fluent readers.