Isn't it fascinating to see how much your child has already learned in his/her young life? As adults, many different thoughts go through our brains while we read, and children are no different. When learning to read, children go from just decoding words to reading longer books on their own, and my job is to make this transition a smooth one.   Students become independent readers by using the "CAFE Menu."  (Of course my ultimate goal is for my students to love reading!)
     Think of yourself at your favorite restaurant, and you're looking at the menu deciding what to eat.  You may have different tastes than your dining companion, or you may be in the mood to try a new dish.  Now think of these different preferences in terms of reading.  Just as you would never expect everyone to eat the same thing, I would never expect my students to have the same needs in their reading.  To help them get the most out of a book, readers need to know what to use from the "CAFE Menu," just as diners at a restaurant use their menus to choose a tasty meal.
    As the school year goes along, students will be able to articulate these different strategies when they select their reading goals from this "CAFE Menu."  Each day, students learn how to "think about their thinking" when I model how I think through a book.  They learn even more when they practice thinking through a book during class discussions and individual reading conferences with me.   Just like your favorite restaurant menu, you'll become more familiar with the CAFE Menu, but if you have questions about this structure, please contact me any time.  Click below each menu section for corresponding web sites.