You are your child's first and most important teacher! Studies show that it's important for children to have a good start at reading. What you do at home is what will help your child become a successful, confident reader!
Read with your child everyday!
Reading everyday is crucial for beginning readers! This means during breaks and over the summer months too.
Follow the 20-minute rule: A beginning reader should spend 20 minutes each day reading to or with someone
What if my child gets stuck on words?
Be patient. Don't just tell your child an unknown word. Here are some tips:
What if my child keeps reading incorrectly?
Ask your child if that sounds right, or if it makes sense? Then, re-read the sentence again.
How can I help my child understand what he/she is reading?
Talk about the book before, during and after reading
Before:
Look at the first few pictures and tell the story using the pictures. Make a guess about what will happen in the story.
During:
Stop to discuss the story every few pages. Ask what questions or things the child is wondering about in the story.
After :
Retell the story. Help your child make connections. Did the book remind them of anything that happened in the world, another book or to their own life.
How can I help my child read fluently?
Remind your child that reading should sound like talking. Reading helps the reader bring the book to life and to reach deeper meaning.
Read, read and read again with your child everyday!
Read with your child everyday!
Reading everyday is crucial for beginning readers! This means during breaks and over the summer months too.
Follow the 20-minute rule: A beginning reader should spend 20 minutes each day reading to or with someone
What if my child gets stuck on words?
Be patient. Don't just tell your child an unknown word. Here are some tips:
- Look at the pictures for a clue
- Look for known sounds in the word
- Look for familiar chunks in the word
- Skip the word and come back to it after finishing the sentence to see what would make sense
What if my child keeps reading incorrectly?
Ask your child if that sounds right, or if it makes sense? Then, re-read the sentence again.
How can I help my child understand what he/she is reading?
Talk about the book before, during and after reading
Before:
Look at the first few pictures and tell the story using the pictures. Make a guess about what will happen in the story.
During:
Stop to discuss the story every few pages. Ask what questions or things the child is wondering about in the story.
After :
Retell the story. Help your child make connections. Did the book remind them of anything that happened in the world, another book or to their own life.
How can I help my child read fluently?
Remind your child that reading should sound like talking. Reading helps the reader bring the book to life and to reach deeper meaning.
- Pay attention to punctuation
- Read with expression, if there are quotation marks in this story, have your child practice using different voices.
Read, read and read again with your child everyday!