Literacy Link
Parent Tips for Reading Guidance


    As the school year progresses, please keep in mind the importance of reading with your child every day.  Research shows that the most valuable thing parents can do to ensure their child’s success in school is to read to and with their child on a daily basis.  When reading with your child, please keep these tips in mind:
1) Prepare:  Prepare your child for reading before you begin.  Find a quiet spot and allow your child to choose a book that interests him or her.  Before you begin reading, look through the pictures in the book to gather information about the topic or events in the story.
2) Pause:  When your child encounters a difficult word, resist the urge to quickly make corrections.  Pause for about 5 seconds before giving assistance in order to give your child a chance to figure the word out independently.
3) Prompt:  When your child is stuck on a tricky word or phrase, give a prompt or question to provide guidance.  You may want to say:  
   - “Check the picture for clues.”
   -  “Do you know a word that starts with those letters?”  
   - “What would make sense there?”
   - If your child does not realize that he or she has made a mistake,      you might say:
        - “Did that make sense?”
        - “Where’s the tricky word?”
        - “You’re almost right.  Try that again.”
        - This type of questioning empowers children to develop                     independent reading skills and correct mistakes on their own.
4) Praise:  Praise is a very important tool that can build confidence in reading and encourage your child to keep trying.  Give your child specific praise about what he or she does well when reading.  You might say:
    - “Wow!  You really read that with expression!”
    - “I noticed that you checked the picture for clues.  Good job!”
    - “I like how you read that part again and fixed your mistake.”
5) Probe:  During and after reading, be sure to ask your child        questions about the book in order to make sure he or she understands what has been read.  You could ask:
    - “What was your favorite part of this story?  Why?”
    - “Can you retell the most important events of this story in                 order?”
6) HAVE FUN!  Most importantly, enjoy the time you spend reading  with your child.  Our goal is to teach children how much fun reading can be!