Tips for Reading with your Child

Last time, we talked about strategies you can teach your child to help them select appropriate books for their reading level.  What should you do if your child selects a book, but then still struggles to read it?  Reading Rockets has some great tips:

When they can't read the word, say…

• Can you sound it out?
• Fingertap it.
• Can you think of the word or movement that helps you remember that vowel sound?
• What is the first and last sound? What word would make sense?
• Does it have a pattern that you have seen in other words? (ex-an, ack)
• How does the word begin?
• You said_______. Does that make sense?
• What word would make sense that would start with these sounds?
• Put your finger under the word as you say it.

When they want to read a book that is too hard, say…

• Let's read it together.
• This is a book you will enjoy more if you save it until you are older — or later in the year.
• [Be honest!] When people read books that are too hard for them, they often skip important parts. You will have more fun with this book if you wait until you can read it easily.

Helping Your Child Select Books

If your child is just beginning to read, or is having some troubles with reading, they may have a hard time choosing a book that is appropriate for their reading level.  Kids sometimes pick books that are too difficult for them, then give up on reading when they realize that it's just too hard.  It's important for kids to have books that they are able to read so that they see reading as a fun activity, not as work. 

Here are a few techniques provided by Reading Rockets that kids can use to help them choose books that are suitable for them. 

Five finger rule

1. Choose a book that you think you will enjoy.
2. Read the second page.
3. Hold up a finger for each word you are not sure of, or do not know.
4. If there are five or more words you did not know, you should choose an easier book.

Still think it may not be too difficult? Use the five finger rule on two more pages.

Choose a book that is a good fit for you!

Read two or three pages and ask yourself these questions:

Will it be an easy, fun book to read?

• Do I understand what I am reading?
• Do I know almost every word?
• When I read it aloud, can I read it smoothly?
• Do I think the topic will interest me?

If most of your answers were "yes", this will be an easy book to read independently by yourself.

Will this book be too hard for me?

• Are there five or more words on a page that I don't know, or am unsure of?
• Is this book confusing and hard to understand by myself?
• When I read it aloud, does it sound choppy and slow?

If most of your answers were "yes," this book is too hard. You should wait awhile before you read this book. Give the book another try later, or ask an adult to read the book to you.

Literacy Activity Cards

In the last few posts, we've discussed improving the literacy environment for young children at home.  Another great way to improve the literacy of pre-school children is through one-on-one activities, such as these Get Ready to Read! Literacy Activity Cards.  Each cards have instructions for fun games that parents and caregivers can play with children to develop upon reading skills.  Examples of the activities include making books or reading puppets; playing rhyming games; and completing word puzzles.

 

Each card lists materials needed to complete the activity as well as step-by-step instructions.  An explanation of the benefits of the activity is also provided.  Cards are broken down by skill area and skill level.

Skill Areas

                Linguistic Awareness- understanding of how language works.  Rhyming, letter sounds, counting the words in a sentence

                Print Concepts- understand of books and printed letters and words.  Identifying letters, knowing  how books work

                Emergent Writing- attempts to use letters to represent language, writing own name

Skill Level

                Beginning Cards

                Making Progress

                Ready to Read Cards

How to Create a Home Library

So you completed the Home Literacy Checklist and found out that your child's literacy environment could use some improvement.  What do you do now?  Create a home library!

This article from Reading Rockets gives you some great tips on getting started.  There's no need to go buy a bunch of brand-new books- there are many ways you can start up a library without spending a lot of money.

Finding books

• Become a treasure hunter! Browse book store sales, garage sales, flea markets, used book stores, and sales at your local library
• Organize a children's book swap with friends, community groups, or your school
• Encourage family and friends to give books as gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations
• Don't forget quality nonfiction and children's magazines!

Building your library

• A cardboard box or small wooden packing crate that you can decorate together might make a good bookcase. Or you might clear one of the family bookshelves.
• Pick a special place for your child's books so that she knows where to look for them - in a cozy corner of your child's bedroom or close to where the rest of the family gathers and reads if your child is very social.
• Help your child to arrange her books in some order - her favorite books, books about animals, or holiday books. Use whatever method will help her most easily find the book she's looking for.
• "This book belongs to…" Bookplates give your child a sense of ownership and can add "newness" to a used book. You can make your own or download and print one of these colorful designs by children's book illustrators.
• If you and your child make your own books together, you can add those to your home library.
• Borrow books from your local library. Go to the children's section and spend time with your child reading and selecting books to take home and put in her special spot. You might even have a box or space just for library books, so that they don't get mixed up with your child's own books.

Is Your Home Literacy Friendly?

According to Get Ready to Read!, learning to read begins way before a child enters school.  As a child's first teacher, parents can ensure that children are exposed to things that promote strong pre-reading skills.  Wondering what you can do to establish a supportive environment for your child's reading at  home? 

This checklist provided by Get Ready to Read! helps you to identify what supportive strategies and what you can improve upon.   The checklist has you answer "true" or "false" to items such as:

• I or another adult in the house read a picture book with my child at least once a week.
• I or another adult in the house help my child learn to write letters of the alphabet.
• My child has at least one alphabet book (e.g., Dr. Seuss's ABC book).
• My child sees me or another adult in the house reading books, magazines or the newspaper at least once a week.

After completing the survey, count up the number of items marked as "true."  The scoring guide gives you an idea of how you are doing:

30 - 37 Home literacy environment has most of the necessary supportive elements

20 - 29 Home literacy environment has many supportive elements

11 - 19 Home literacy environment has some supportive elements

0 - 10 Home literacy environment needs improvement

Online Games for Early Literacy Skills

Online games can be a fun, interactive way for young children to learn the skills they will need in order to begin reading.  Get Ready to Read! has games that address three levels of early literacy skills.  

Gus and Inky’s Underwater Adventure This game is a great way for young children to be introduced to rhyming words, practice word recognition, and learn letter names and sounds.

Rhyme Time  Kids can develop their rhyming skills by helping Gus write his first hip-hop song.

Wild Word Round Up  In this game, children learn to listen for the sounds in words.  The game provides practice in skills like sound blending and identifying beginning and ending sounds

Raising Readers Video

    

I recently came acoss a video called "Raising Readers" at GetReadytoRead.org. 

According to the website, the Get Ready to Read! program works to build the early-literacy skills of pre-school age children.

The video shows some fun activites that parents can do with their young children who are getting ready to read.  Activities include playing listening games, reading before bedtime, and making your own books.  Practicing these skills at home will give children a jump-start in thier literacy skills and will help to instill a love of reading in these future students.