| Treasure Boxes
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This idea was shared with me by my friend, Kerry, in British Columbia. Thanks Kerry!
Each year we have the children make a Treasure Box. This box is used to store all of their little books that they make in school. We like to encourage the children to continue to read these books over and over for practice at home. Many of the parents have reported that they loved having a box to put all of the their "treasures" in.
The first letter is for directions to the parents in making the treasure box. The boxes with the letter below were given to the parents at our Back to School night. This is usually a couple of weeks after school starts. The box is difficult to transport for those children going to after school day care.
Dear Parents,
We would like for you to take home a "Reading Treasure Box" for your child to
decorate. We thought that it would be easier for you to take it tonight than
have each child try to take it home tomorrow. Please don't forget to take a box
and lid---two pieces.
This box will be used to store his/her little books that we will be making
throughout the year. Your child may choose to paint his/her box, cover it with
contact paper, construction paper, wallpaper, fabric or use his/her imagination
to decorate! Please feel free to assist your child. Some ideas might be to use
sequins, beads, stones, gems, stickers, etc. The boxes should be completed by
Friday, September 28 and returned to school to share on that day. Your child
will receive a key to the treasure box to be kept with it. This is meant to
remind them that the "key to reading success" is to practice reading every day,
at home and at school! The box will be returned to your child on the same day to
take home.
Please note that while daily reading practice with our "little books" at home is
critical, it is also important to continue reading nightly bedtime stories to
your child as well. These books will be above their reading level but not above
their "listening level." Most of the children are now old enough to enjoy
listening to longer, more complex picture books and simple chapter books. Interesting books that stir the imagination or tickle the funny bone motivate
children to want to learn to read independently. Think of your bedtime
read-aloud as a advertisement for reading!
Happy reading!
Linda Critchell
Sue Bergman
The following letter is sent home with the child
after they have shared their Treasure Box at school.
Dear Parents,
Today your child is bringing home his/her "Reading Treasure Box" in which to
store his/her books. The children have also received keys to remind them that
the "key to reading success" is to practice every day, at home and at school!
Your child will be bringing home different types of books to add to their
treasure box. He/She might want to store their weekly letter poem in the
Treasure Box to review. (apple and bee poem) This is also good practice in
reading to continue to practice these.
Most of the books that will be sent home have been introduced and practiced at
school during our reading/phonics lessons. These books have very simple and
controlled vocabulary which builds in a sequential manner so that the children
come to recognize and memorize important "sight words."
These books provide them with the opportunity to independently try out their
beginning reading skills. It would be a good idea to allow your child the chance
to look at these books and try to figure them out on their own. Children can be
encouraged to look at the pictures for clues, look for words that they know and
try to sound out words unfamiliar words using our Zoo Phonics from school.
By asking a question or two at the end of the book, you can help build
comprehension skills. It is important to stress that what they read should make
sense to them. We would also encourage you to ask questions about the stories
that you read to your child for RAH.
It is important to have the children practice with these little books over and
over again! At school we are insisting that they "track" the print with their
finger, and it would be helpful if you would remind them of this at home too.
Again, we would like to stress that daily reading practice with our books made
in school is critical, but it is also important to continue reading nightly
bedtime stories to your child, too! Most of the children are ready to listen to
more difficult books that are not above their "listening level!" Many of the
children are ready for simple chapter books such as the Junie B. Jones series.
These are often available through See Saw and the book fair.
The Treasure Boxes are terrific! Everyone was very excited about sharing their
new box! We would like to thank you for your support and please don't hesitate
to ask us for assistance if you need more direction in helping your child with
reading or writing at home. We'd be glad to give you some suggestions or explain
a bit more about the developmental process of learning to read and write.
Sincerely,
Linda Critchell
Sue Bergman
This
is a scanned picture of a key that each child receives after completing their
treasure box. You can pick up old keys from almost any key shop.
The pictures below will give you an idea of what some of the boxes looked like. These boxes with lids were donated by a parent. Thank you Mr. Posthumus!!
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