Reading

Books, Basics and Balance

Find out about our: Reading Lab Reading Alley Accelerated Reader Program Literacy Volunteer Opportunities 2nd Grade High Frequency Word List Almaden Branch Library  6445 Camden Ave. San José, CA 95120 (408) 808-3040 Hours:                   Monday 2:00PM - 7:00PM Tuesday - Wednesday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Thursday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday Closed           Map & directions

Los Alamitos has placed a strong emphasis on reading / language arts, particularly Early Literacy.  In response to the California reading initiative, our school has accepted the challenge of Every Child a Reader.

Our primary staff focuses on effective Good First Teaching practices and strategies in maximizing student achievement and student behavior.  The staff supports and integrates a strong sequential phonics program throughout the grade levels, supplemented by Total Reading in primary grades.  The importance of early literacy is evidenced at Los Alamitos as our kindergarten students take part in the district's "Red Book Bag" program.  Quality, nightly home reading books for families to share are provided and required daily.

A highly visible and powerful Reading Lab intervention program is in place in our media center.  Children in primary grades who need additional reading support are evaluated by the staff and given lessons by trained parent and community volunteers.  This Davidson Model reading lab uses many reading recovery techniques and benchmark leveled books.  Our lab is open four afternoons a week, and visitors are welcome upon appointment.

Adjacent to the Reading lab is our Reading Alley bookroom, which houses many sets of leveled books used for guiding reading by our primary staff.  Our Reading Alley provides support for 3rd graders, operating much the same way as the lab, and also supported by volunteers.

Cross-Age Tutors is a lunchtime reading program that starts in January for 1st grade students who need some additional assistance in reading. The 1st graders are paired up with a trained 5th grade tutor, who gives up his/her lunch four days a week to read for 30 minutes with the 1st grade partner. This program is managed by Jan Whitlach and Kathy Stagnaro, but will be overseen this school year by Jan, Kathy, and their 1st grade colleagues Reta Libs, Linda Dudum, and Jayli Casey.

This strong literacy emphasis continues as the third grade classes take part in the San Jose Sharks' Reading is Cool program, which encourages and celebrates students' reading. 

The Accelerated Reader program piloted at our school has been motivation for 4th and 5th graders who read designated books and take computerized comprehension tests to earn points and rewards.  Thanks to the Fitzpatrick Foundation's $3200 support, we are happy to be able to bring this program to our 3rd graders beginning this fall, and to our 2nd graders beginning in January 2004.  The media specialist who oversees the program boasts of a record number of books checked out by our students.

In addition to the core literature and Houghton Mifflin reading program as a basal text, each classroom has a variety of rich literature.

Reading as a gateway strategy for our Los Alamitos students is our #1 priority.