Reading Tips For Your Child

Learning to read takes practice.  Loving to read takes enthusiasm.  So read 
with your child often and create a sense of enjoyment, wonder, and even a 
passion for reading.

Here are some easy, practical ways you can increase your child's skills and 
love for reading.

Read with your child every day possible -- even your baby.  Give children 
something to look forward to by reading to them every day at the same time.

Have your youngster read out loud to you.  Listen carefully and make sure 
to praise your child's reading.

Take turns reading -- You read a section, then have your child read the next 
section.

Even after children can read on their own, keep reading to them so they can 
enjoy stories and books that intrest them but are too hard for them to read 
by themselves.



Five Tips for Parents of Reluctant Readers

Would your child rather clean up his room than pick up a book?  These five 
tips from the reading expert Marie Carbo can help you get your child back on 
the right reading track.

1.  Make reading relaxing and low-key for a short part of the day.
2.  Read aloud some funny or interesting parts of your favorite book.
3.  Draw your child in with a riddle book for kids, a passage from Sports   
    Illustrated, or a newspaper story.
4.  If your child likes a movie, see if it's based in a book, then bring 
    home the book.
5.  For kids who have lost the motivation to read, use material that's 
    intensely interesting to them.  You child may almost have to 
    disassociate what he's doing at school with the act of reading something 
    for fun.

          Brought to you by the National Education Association




Ways To Help Your Child Read Well 
Five Finger Rule 
Here is one way to help your child choose a book. 
While reading the first page of a book, count 
the unknown words (using fingers to keep track is fine). 
If there are five or more, the book is too hard for now. 
Read that book together! 
Reading Just the Right Book 
The book that is just right is one that your child 
can read independently. It is not too hard and it is 
not too easy. It’s just right for their reading level. 
Harder Books 
Children have learned to read many words. They 
may even be reading chapter books. However, 
they might not understand what’s being read. 
Ask your child questions about the story to see 
if they are understanding the story content. 
                                               

When Your Child Comes To An Unknown Word
       Parents will tell a child to "sound out" an unknown word

Frequently that prompt is successful and the word is decoded.  When sounding 

it out doesn't work, adults usually tell the word and reading continues.  Our

goal is to help children become independent readers.  Here are some alternative

suggestions for parents to use when your child confronts an unknown word.

*Wait 5-10 seconds to see what attempts are made.  Ask:"What would make sense there?"

*Use the picture to help figure out the word.

*Skip the word and continue reading to the end of the sentence.

*Go back and read the sentence again.

*If the word was on a previous page, go back and try to find it.

*Look for a smaller word in a big one. (chunk)

*Cover the ending (-ed, -ing) with your finger and try the word.

*Look how the word begins.

*Help with blending (sounding it out).

*Let the sound "pop" right out.

*Tell the word and keep reading.

*It is important that children learn to use these strategies independently. 

 When your child "figures out" a word, you might ask how she/he did it.  

 Telling about their reading helps to reinforce learning. 

**Always praise their effort!!! 

Check out  "First Grade Reading at a Glance" on the links page for a listing of 

reading skills that will be tested.  Review workbook pages sent home daily and practice 

skills covered. Have your child read aloud for 20 minutes each night and ask them 

questions about what they have read.