Reading Strategies

Reading at home should be a vital part of your child's day. Here are a few helpful tips to help
you get started:

When you are reading TO your child:

make sure your child can see the pictures easily
use plenty of expression, reading in a natural speaking voice.
encourage your child to predict what might happen next as the story develops.
as you read, point to each word, sliding your finger along the text.

When you are reading WITH your child:
Begin reading the story to your child at a speed your child is comfortable with. As you read,
your child will begin to pick up the pattern of the story and read with you. Encourage your
child to point to each word, sliding a finger from word to word. When your child comes to a
difficult word, ask:
Look at the picture. What word would make sense?
Look at the beginning letter of the word. What word would make sense that begins with that
sound?
Try reading that whole sentence again. See if you can think of a word that makes sense.

When your CHILD is reading:
Your child may need you to introduce the pattern of the story by reading aloud initially. Once
your child feels comfortable reading, enjoy listening to the story being read.

After reading talk about the story and ask questions like:
Were there surprises?
What did you like best about the characters?
What did you like about the ending?
Did the story remind you of any other story or of things that have happened to you?
Ask your child to retell the story in his/her own words.

Before reading:
Here is how to choose a "Just Right" book:
Ask yourself these questions. If you answer YES, this book is probably a "Just Right Book" for
you.
1. Is this book new to you?
2. Do you understand some of the book?
3. Are there just a few words (3-5) that you don't know?
4. When you read are some places smooth and some choppy?
5. Can someone help you with this book? Who?

Also, yoou can have your child take the "Five Finger Test" to choose a book.
1. Choose a book
2. Open to the middle of the book.
3. Start reading.
4. When you come to a word you don't know, put one finger down pinky first).
Put a new finger down for each word you don't now.
5. If you put your thumb down (5 words you aren't sure about) then this book is too tricky.
Choose another book.

While reading:
Use the Active Readiing Strategies to help you become a better reader.
1. Visualize: Make a movie to connect a book to an outside event not directly connected to you.
Then read: "This book makes me feel _____.", when, where, and why.
3. Clarify: Not sure about a word? Reread the words you just read. Look at the pictures.
Clarify new words.
4. Predict: Ask yourself "What will happen next?"
5. Connect: Make connections! Text to self - connect a book to a personal event or feeling.
Text to text - connect two books together. Text to world - Connect a book to an outside event
not directly connected to you.
6. React: "This book makes me feel________!"
7. Summarize: State the most important things about the text.

What do you do when you come to a word that you don't know?
1. STOP: Where is the word? Cover the word to keep your place.
2. Think: What would make sense?
3. Look: How long is the word? Is the word I guessed too big or too small?
4. Listen: How does the word begin? What are the other letters in the word? Check your
guess. Did you guess the word?

Or try one of these ideas:
1. Put your finger on the word and say all the letters.
2. Skip a word and read the rest of the sentence: Use clues within the sentence to try and
figure out the word (must use a word that makes sense), use picture clues.
3. Substitute with another word that makes sense.
4. Use picture clues.
5. Use text clues (boldface, type, italics, roman numbers, etc.)
6. Look at the begining, middle, and ending sounds of the word and try to sound it out.
7. Look for little words inside of big words.
8. Backtrack and read the sentence again.
9. Search for similarites among words you already know.
10.Ask someone for help.


Reading Strategies & Vowel Rules
While reading, if your child gets stuck on a word, the following
strategies will help.

1. Look for picture clues.
2. Look at the first sound and the last sounds. "Get your mouth
ready."
3. Look for little words and word endings.
4. Look for "chunks" in the word.
5. Look at the first three letters.
6. Link the word to a similar word you know.
7. Use your "thumbuddy".
8. Skip the word and reread.


Silent E
The silent E is so powerful it gives it's power to the other vowel. The
other vowel says it's real name.

Two Vowels
Two vowels go walking the first one does the talking and says its real name.
(rain, meat, boat)

If the vowel at the end is free it pops way up and says its name to me. (hi,
so, me)