There are four good reading tips or strategies for you to reinforce with your
child when he or she is having difficulty decoding a word.
1. Look at the picture. Often pictures will give hints about some of the words in the text.
2. Think about the meaning of the story. Reading should make sense,tell your child to think about what word would make sense in the sentence.
3.Look at the initial letter or blends in the word and think about the associated sounds. Also look for any chunks in words to help with the decoding process. Don't forget to look at word endings too.
4. It's ok to skip a word, then go back and reread a sentence. Even adults occasionally skip a word in text, then after reading a sentence go back and reread in order to decode a word.
By using all of these strategies your child will be able to read more fluently. When you read with your child, if he or she is getting frustrated, feel free to simply tell your child the unknown word. Reading should always be positive and fun, not stressful.
By the end of Kindergarten, children should be able to:
1. Read left to right while matching one spoken word to one printed word
2. Identify and produce rhyming words
3. Identify upper and lower case letters
4. Demonstrate letter - sound relationships
5. Read 25 high frequency words
6. Use pictures, initial letters, and meaning to read unknown words
7. Read, comprehend, and retell an easy repetitive book.
( Level 3 - which I will share with you at our academic open house and at conferences. )
Reading is a complex developmental process that begins at home. As a parent, you play a critical role in teaching your child how to read. The most important thing you can do is read to your child. Although all kinds of books are valuable, alphabet books and rhyming books have proven to be beneficial in helping your child learn to read. As you read to your child, he or she is seeing that you value reading. The experience gives your child an opportunity to hear the rhythm and flow of language, and promotes print concepts. Because of your efforts, your child will also read. Be accepting of the efforts that your child makes in reading. Children begin reading by looking at pictures and telling a story. As they mature, children start to memorize parts of a story. Even though they are not truly reading the exact words on the page, they understand that print contains a message, and they are attempting to understand and share that message with others.
Writing and reading are closely connected. Because of this, it is important that you encourage all attempts made by your child in the writing process. When your child writes, ask him or her what it says. Accept all scribbles, pictures, and letters as writing.
Once you child begins to read, please continue to read to him or her at home. When your child reads to you, be patient. Have your child read old favorites that are easy and contain lots of repetitious and predictable print. As your child matures and attempts to read more difficult material, you can be helpful by reinforcing reading strategies. Four good reading strategies are listed below. But please remember that you should continue to read to your child.
