- Welcome to Mrs. Gifford's AIS Reading Class!
Thank you for visiting my website! My name is Andrea Gifford and it is my pleasure to be working with your children in reading this year!I have been teaching reading at Canastota since 2006. I previously taught at Westmoreland Central School District as a sixth grade ELA teacher.
My main focus this year is to help your children become fluent, successful readers. I work with students in small groups two to three times a week for thirty minute blocks of time to give them practice in reading comprehension, fluency, decoding, and vocabulary. We discuss the many skills needed in order to become successful readers and then practice these skills each week in class.
Reading with your child at home will also benefit them greatly and I urge you to do this whenever possible. I find that many of my students love the chance to read out loud to an audience. It motivates them to become better readers when given feedback and praise. Remember, reading is a habit for a lifetime and I thank you for your support!
Why is Reading Aloud to Children Important?
It helps them acquire the information and skills they need in life, such as:
- Knowledge of printed letters and words, and the relationship between sounds and print.
- The meaning of many words.
- How books work, and a variety of writing styles.
- The world in which they live.
- The difference between written language and everyday conversation.
- The pleasure of reading.
I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists; kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks,
All with one library ticket,
To the wonderful world of books.
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