For information about the Elementary Curriculum for
Reading/English Language Arts in Prince George's County Public Schools,
please visit the following link:
READING TEACHER
To build an effective reading program, reading teachers must assume many roles. These roles encompass:
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Management of the Reading Program
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Testing
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Instructional services
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Resource services (to parents and teachers)
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Inservices
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Other related services
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Reading and Achieving
 American novelist, John Steinbeck summed up the task of learning to read, as "the greatest single effort that the human mind undertakes, and he must do it as a child." Children who read achieve. It is no wonder that students who score high on the SAT have read more words than students who don’t. Children can’t do it alone. Parents and teachers must support their efforts. What needs to be done? Simply follow the 3 R's:
1. Read with your child every day.
Often times when children begin to read, parents/guardians stop reading. Reading with your child should continue on through the grades. Reading is a social experience. It is a time to connect and explore your child’s thinking.
2. Reach into your wallet to buy books, magazines, and other reading material for your child and yourself.
Buying books does not have to be expensive. The libraries offer books no longer in circulation for sale. The best buys are in used bookstores. You can find quite a variety of books, but you will need to be selective as to the quality. Nothing, however, beats having children pick their own brand new book. It is empowering for the child and helps them feel committed to reading. Many bookstores offer programs that feature discounts for books.
3. Rule the TV.
Put a reasonable limit on televisions, video, and video games so there will be time for reading in your child’s life.The research is too clear-too much television can interfere with the intellectual development of children. It is suggested that children watch no more than three hours of television a day.
We love to read and love to see students reading. We feature our favorite books below and hope you and your child will enjoy them too.
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Books for Reading Pleasure
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Favorites for Ages Five to Eight
Eric Carle books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Busy Spider
The Very Lonely Firefly
Beverly Cleary
Ramona the Pest
Judy Blume
Fudge
Superfudge
Russell Hoban
Bread and Jam for Frances
P.D. Eastman
Go, Dog, Go
Peggy Parrish
Amelia Bedelia
Dr. Seuss
Cat in the Hat
Marc Brown
Arthur
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Favorites for Ages Eight to Ten
Mary Pope Osborn
Magic Treehouse
Judy Blume
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Frances Hodgeson Burnett
The Secret Garden
Betsy Byers
Summer of the Swans
Beverly Cleary
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Mary Norton
The Borrowers
Donald Sobal
Encyclopedia Brown
Mildred Taylor
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
E.B. White
Charlotte’s Web
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Favorites for Ages Eight to Twelve
Louisa May Alcott
Little Women
Judy Blume
Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret
E.L. Konisgsburg
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Madeleine L’Engle
A Wrinkle in Time
Lois Lowery
The Giver
Katherine Patterson
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Jerry Spinelli
Maniac Magee
J. R. R. Tolkin
The Hobbit
Gary Paulson
The Hatchet
Louis Sachar
Holes
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READING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Pointer Ridge has several reading incentive programs for children in grades kindergarten through five. These programs are designed to motivate children to read more, both at school and at home, by rewarding them for their reading accomplishments. Participation in these reading incentives is very important to your child's reading development and required as part of the homework requirements. The more your child reads, the better he/she will read. The following reading incentive programs will be used a Pointer Ridge.
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"BOOK-IT" WITH PIZZA HUT
(October - February)
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| The Book-It program is a five-month reading incentive program for children in grades kindergarten through five. The classroom teacher sets monthly goals for each child in the class. Each child is given a monthly reading log to record the books read. At the end of each month, the book log is handed in to the teacher and students who reached the goal are presented with a Pizza Award Certificate. The child can redeem this certificate for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza at any participating Pizza Hut. |
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WASHINGTON SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT
READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
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| This reading incentive program is offered to students in grades four and five. During a designated time period, the students are to read a specified number of minutes and record titles on a special reading log. The reading logs are usually due during the month of March and rewards are given when received at the end of April. |
BOWIE BAY SOX
READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
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  This program is offered to students in grades Kindergarten through five. Students are to read four books and write a paragraph about each book. The classroom teacher initials a special bookmark as each paragraph is submitted. The reward for reading is a free ticket to a designated Bay Sox game. |
SIX FLAGS
READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
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| This program is done from October through January. The student is asked to read a certain number of books in this time period and will be awarded a fee ticket to Six Flags if the goal is met. The tickets are awarded in June. |
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY READING RECOGNITION PROGRAM (September to May)
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To promote reading as a recreational and pleasurable activity, Prince George's County implemented the Reading Recognition Program. This program includes students in grades Kindergarten through Six who have read a designated number of books beyond those required in classroom assignments. The students in Kindergarten and first grade can earn a certificate for the number of books read to them if they are unable to read independently. Parent involvement is encouraged since they are asked to "sign off" on their child's Reading Log to verify accuracy of information. Reading Recognition Certificates will be awarded at the end of the school year to students who have met the criteria below:
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| Type of Certificate |
# Books Read |
| Silver(Gray) Award |
50 or more |
| Copper(Peach) Award |
40 |
| Blue Award |
25 |
| Green Award |
15 |
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Books read as part of the above reading incentive programs are acceptable. Books read during the summer may also be included on the reading log. Periodicals and magazines are unacceptable. Reading logs (signed by parent) are due to the reading teacher on May first of each year.
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At Pointer Ridge, reading certainly pays off both academically and with many tangible rewards.
Encourage your child to participate in these reading incentives.
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