Make Reading a Part of Your Family Time!
~Read bedtime stories.
~Create a comfy reading space at home.
~Match books with activities. If you're going to a movie, read a book about it afterwards!
~Read yourself. You are your child's role model. If they see that you enjoy reading, they'll want to read too!
How to Read with a Beginning Reader:
~15-20 minutes is plenty of time for a beginning reader.
~Open a book to any page and ask your child to read. Put up a finger every time your child does not know a word. If you have put up five fingers before the end of the page, the book is too hard for your child.
~Choose books that match your child's likes and interests.
~Encourage your child to use his/her finger to point to each word.
~Take turns reading.
~Talk about the story as you read it to check for understanding. Ask "What do you think will hapen next?", "How do you think this character feels?"
~Repeated reading helps build fluency -- don't be afraid to read the same book again!
~Encourage your child to make connections by asking if the story reminds them of another book they read or movie they have seen.