Dear Parents,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you may know, this term your 5th grade student in the Bilingual Program will be reading Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/em> by E.B. White. This will not be an adapted or abridged text, but rather the original work of American young adult literature. We\u2019d like to give you some background about the novel, mention the benefits and challenges from the students\u2019 point of view, and also make suggestions for how you could help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading in any language expands the mind and helps us explore vital topics and real-life situations, all the while allowing students to develop their comprehension skills, critical thinking capabilities and complexity of thought both in general and also in that specific language. Indeed, research indicates that reading skills directly relate to future academic and professional success. It can help students gain a deeper understanding of context and why characters \u2013 and people \u2013 make the choices they do. Reading also helps build independence and self-confidence and has a positive effect on the development of empathy as well as concentration. Finally, reading is a major resource for using and understanding language \u2013 including grammatical structure, lexical knowledge and writing skills. Not only can students pick up new words, but reading them in an authentic context can also help students understand the subtle nuances of the lexis that was chosen by the author. The same is true when we process the plot and character development through the linguistic structures employed by the author \u2013 helping students understand a variety of uses \u201cin the linguistic wild\u201d, as it were. All in all, reading in any language develops skills that are essential for each student\u2019s continuing studies and life in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/em> by E.B. White has been a beloved story about life, death, friendship, and courage that has enthralled people of all ages for over 50 years \u2013 a true classic of American literature. It has won numerous awards including: the Newbery Honor Book 1953, the American Library Association Notable Children\u2019s Book 1953, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award 1970, the Horn Book Fanfare 1953, and the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/em>\u00a0has many benefits for students in 5th grade. Although it may seem to be an easy read for many of our students, it contains messages that lead each student to think critically and form their own opinions. These messages about life, death, and friendship help students create connections to their own lives and, in turn, create a deeper empathy for the characters in the novel as well as the friends and loved ones in their daily lives. E.B. White\u2019s unique voice captures the innocence of the characters as they move through the story. His word choice throughout is also highlighted by Charlotte, which easily lends itself to word study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with all new material, there may be challenges that your child will face while reading\u00a0Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/em>. There will be some unfamiliar vocabulary that the children may need help getting through. We don\u2019t believe that each new word needs to be taught explicitly, but instead we seek to help students understand that they can use the context of the scene to help them understand the gist of the words. Rather than explicitly stating how characters are feeling, the author uses actions to reflect the mood throughout the book, which for some students will be a new learning. Therefore, it is important to talk with your child about their understanding of the story and to encourage them to ask why they believe certain actions are taken by the characters. This will help them read actions for motives, rather than just words \u2013 a useful skill in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please let us know if you have further questions. We would like to thank you for your support in helping your son or daughter keep up with his or her chapter-by-chapter reading assignments at home. Finally, we hope your child learns from this novel and, most importantly, enjoys reading it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best regards: Anthony Laudadio, Head of Education \u2013 Primary & High Schools<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Parents, As you may know, this term your 5th grade student in the Bilingual Program will be reading Charlotte\u2019s Web by E.B. White. This will not be an adapted or abridged text, but rather the original work of American young adult literature. We\u2019d like to give you some background about the novel, mention the benefits and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7397","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy is it important for my child to read in English?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why was this novel chosen?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the benefits of this novel?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are some of the challenges? \/ How can I as a parent help?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n