Mrs. Spillman - Reading

1.) Make reading part of your child's world. Read books with her and to her, aiming for a total of 30 minutes of book-sharing time each day. Also incorporate reading into everyday activities. Post a chore list on the refrigerator, ask her to read signs as you drive, and play board games like Scrabble Junior. 2.) Take turns. When he is ready to read to you, start by taking turns. You read one page, he reads the next, and so on. 3.) Ask deeper questions. Help her build comprehension skills by asking questions about the story, such as why she thinks a character did something and what may come next. Talk to her about which books are her favorites and have her try to explain why. 4.) Be patient. Wait quietly as your child tries to sound out a word he's unfamiliar with. 5.) HELP HER WHEN SHE NEEDS IT! If she makes a mistake but is close, quickly repeat the word correctly and let her continue without interrupting the flow. If she guesses wildly on a word, help her get the right meaning from the context of the sentence. 6.) Answer questions about the meaning of words, but don't drill her on vocabulary words as you read. Read different-level books. It's okay if he chooses an "easy" book to read. Reading a familiar favorite is a good confidence booster. Read more advanced books to him to introduce new words and challenging stories. 7.) Praise her. Learning to read smoothly is hard work and might frustrate her at times. Encourage her by praising her efforts, paying attention when she wants to read, and making your reading time together fun.