Reading to ourselves and our partners

One of the first things we learn about in kindergarten is the joy of reading! Each student gets their own book box filled with 10-15 picture books, and every day we spend 20 minutes doing "Read to Self" or "Read to Someone" time. We learn that there are three ways to read a book:

1. Reading the pictures
2. Reading the words
3. Retelling a familiar story

I emphasize this so that even students who can't read the words (which is most kindergarteners at this point in the year!) are able to enjoy books both new and old. Eventually, we will add easy reader books into their book boxes, which are small books that I use to teach reading skills and are filled with predictable, repetitive text that will allow students to read the words. The students also have poetry binders in their book boxes, which I fill each Friday with the poem of the week. 

Here are some pictures of our class reading to themselves and to their partners!