Run on down to Mrs. Vail's Reading Room! Readers are leaders!!!! large view A Great Read Aloud !!! Hello Parents! If you're looking for appropriate books for your children to read, check out my resource page and my links page.  There are several sites that list good books by grade level (and various interests).  Also, many sites are interactive!  Have fun and keep READING!!    Tips for Success Read every day for at least 15 to 30 minutes!  Reading will build your sight vocabulary, improve you spelling, and help you become a better writer.  Books will take you to exciting places and introduce you to new people!! Here are some strategies for figuring out unknown words. 1.  Break up the word in parts or chunks.  Try to sound out each part and then put the parts together.  Does it sound right?  Does it look right?  Does it make sense? 2.  Skip the word and read the rest of the sentence.  Reread the sentence and see if you can guess the word using the words around it. 3.  Cover up 'ed' and 'ing' endings.  4.  Look for tiny words inside the word then try sounding out the whole word . 5.  Look for picture clues. Parent's Corner     Grateful - A Song of Giving Thanks, by John Bucchino This is a beautifully illustrated book that comes with a wonderful CD recording by Art Garfunkel.  It is truly a celebration of life!!   large view A great book to start the new year with! large view Turn off the television and turn your mind on.