2nd Grade: Back to Basic Reading Passages and Comprehension

Each class begins with a 5-7 minute Dolch sight word exercise, which is a progressive activity starting with 2nd grade sight words during weeks 1 and 2 and advancing up to 4th grade level sight words in weeks 5 and 6.  Our safe and encouraging learning environment fosters confidence for students to increase their oral reading fluency throughout the entire 6 week course.  

The 35 minute reading and comprehension activity consists of student participation by taking turns reading short stories to the class. 
Students will be exposed to 2nd grade level reading material during weeks 1 and 2 and ending with students reading 3rd to 4th grade short stories by weeks 5 and 6 as they increase in their oral reading fluency.  This activity also includes a comprehension exercise consisting of questions designed to help students develop the necessary skills to engage in the text to increase their ability to comprehend the stories.  

The final 5 minute wrap-up features an interactive discussion of student's favorite out-of-class books and why the love them.  It is a great way for students to describe what they like to read and for other students to be exposed to new reading opportunities.

Weekly course overview:
Week 1: 
Review 30 Dolch Sight Words (2nd grade level). 
Read three 2nd and 3rd grade level short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activity, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. A new reading skill will be introduced in week one, which is how to go back to the text to find reading comprehension answers to the questions (text evidence). 

Week 2 
Review 35 Dolch Sight Words (2nd and 3rd grade level). 
Read three 2nd and 3rd grade level short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activities, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. We will continue developing 
 the skills of reviewing the text to find our reading comprehension answers to each question (text evidence). We will introduce a new reading skill to attack new and unfamiliar vocabulary words.  This skill will enable students to sound out and say new vocabulary words in the text. 

Week 3  
Review 35 Dolch Sight Words (3rd grade level). 
Read three 3rd grade level short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activity, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. We will continue our text evidence skill and vocabulary attack skill.  We will learn a new reading skill called summarization of the text enabling readers accurately give a short summary of what they read. 

Week 4
Review 40 Dolch Sight Words (3rd and 4th grade level). 
Read three 3rd and 4th grade short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activity, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. We will continue applying the previous skills from weeks 1, 2, and 3.  We will learn a new reading skill called reflection. Students will learn how to reflect on what they just read and discuss their reflections with the classmates. 

Week 5
Review 40 Dolch Sight Words (4th grade level). 
Read three 4th grade level short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activities, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. We will continue applying previous skills. Students will learn a new reading skill called supporting claims. Students will learn how to use evidence from the text to support a specific thought or concept. 

Week 6
Review 45 Dolch Sight Words (4th grade level). We will even try some bonus 5th grade words! 
Read three 4th grade level short stories and answer comprehension questions. 
During the short stories activities, students will practice oral reading fluency and comprehension skills. Students will review the five new reading skills learned in weeks 1-5. These new reading comprehension skills are: (1) using textual evidence to answer questions, (2) attacking vocabulary words,  (3) summarizing the story, (4) reflection on the story, and (5) supporting claims from the story.