The following are some suggestions and ideas for encouraging beginner readers at home!
- Let your child read the words and offer help only when it's needed.
- Many children can read simple books containing short, common words and books that follow a predictable pattern.
- Most children rely heavily on pictures and their memory of the story to help them read. It is ok for young children to read books over and over from memory. This is practicing important literacy skills!
- Young readers benefit from practice, and they take great pride in showing off their new skills to adults.
- Reading a favourite book many times helps them to learn to read the words.
- As your child reads to you, you can help out and provide words if he gets stuck, but try not to step in before you are needed.
- Let your child "share" the reading with you.
- A beginner reader will not be able to read all books, but they can share reading with an adult.
- The child who recognizes only a few words can chime in and read those words in the text.
- Most can fill in a rhyming word in a shared reading. For example, if you read, "Have you ever seen a bear combing his _______?" your child will probably provide "hair" as the correct rhyme.
- Keep reading sessions short.
- Reading 1 or 2 short books several times a day is usually best.
- Children should read EVERY day.
- If your child is getting frustrated then stop and try again later.
- For English class I encourage 20 minutes of reading a day as homework.
- Encourage your child to track the print with a finger, pointing to each word as she says it.
- This habit will reinforces the idea that printed words represent spoken words and that print goes from left to right in English.
- You can also ask your child to find words she knows in the text, or to find a word that starts with a certain beginning sound. Asking your child how she knew the word was "kitten" and not "cat," for example, will help improve her awareness of the strategies she is beginning to use in reading.
- Don't limit reading to books.
- read street signs, look over your shopping list, follow a simple recipe with you, and reading a menu with you are all ways that you can extend reading beyond books.
- Reading is important no matter what language it is in.
- It is beneficial to read in any language you feel comfortable in.