Language Support Specialist (LSS)
Frequently
Asked Questions | What Can I Do to Assist My Child
at Home
We work with students who need a little extra attention in language arts
and reading. Some specific skills addressed include phonemic awareness,
decoding, comprehension, and writing. We work with small groups of students
daily who are pulled from their regular classroom for about 30-40 minutes.
Q: How is my child identified as needing extra help in language arts and reading.
A: All first graders are assessed for reading readiness during the first two weeks of school. Those who have not mastered the readiness skills are placed in Reading. Second and third grade teachers have observed and assessed your child and may recommend that he or she receive assistance from one of us. We administer an informal reading inventory to determine weaknesses in specific skills. Sometimes the child has been placed on the list for reading help at the end of the previous year. Parents can also call us with concerns and we will do our best to assist.
Q: How many students are pulled at one time?
A: The number of students in a group depends on the identified needs. Because we want to be able to individualize each lesson we generally maintain groups of five and six students.
Q: Whom do I contact?
A: You may call the school at 246-8230. We will receive your message and call you back at our earliest convenience. You may also make an appointment to visit us.
What can I do to assist my child at home?
A: Please become actively involved in your child's education from the very beginning. Children whose parents are involved in their education are better students and develop a love for learning. They tend to be more curious about everything around them. Find out what your child is learning in school and ensure that all assigned homework is completed correctly.
For many people reading implies reading books. But if you look around you, you will notice that there are worlds everywhere. From the time your child can talk, help him/her to read signs and talk about what they tell people. Trucks, billboards, and buses provide other opportunities for reading and can help you and your child pass time on long drives.
Make trips to the library a part of your weekly schedule. Let your child browse through the shelves, looking for different kinds of books that may be of interest. Encourage your child to branch our into unfamiliar shelves of the library to discover books that he might not normally choose.
Encourage your child to read the book that his/her favorite T.V. show or movie. Discuss the who, what, why, when, where of both. Talk about how the book and the show are different and alike. Evaluate which was better liked and why.
Spend time with your child. It can be about anything. If something is interesting to you and if your child displays an interest in something, it is never too early to teach and learn together.
In the end, showing your child that reading is important in own life is a sure-fire way to make it important in your child's life.
Make reading a fun time at home so everyone is reading something. It many be a newspaper, magazine or book. Read to your child and have your child read to you. Through modeling you are teaching your child the joy of reading. You may want to do this 15-20 minutes just before your child falls asleep or while you are cooking dinner. Any time is fine as long as it is a regular scheduled activity.