“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”
- Emilie Buchwald
Reading At Home
Make sure your child practices reading for at least 30 minutes at home every day. Just like it takes practice to become a better singer, dancer, or football player, it takes practice to become a better reader. Use the 100 Book Challenge reading log sheets to keep track of daily reading practices.
Know your child’s “Just Right” reading level. Encourage your child to read whatever books he or she wants, as long as they books are a good fit.
If your child is not yet in the habit of reading for fun, set some goals and establish rewards for meeting those goals. For example, “If you read for 30 minutes every night for one month, I’ll take you to ___, or buy you ___, or allow you to ___.”
Home Coaching Tips:
Be your child’s home reading coach.
Provide the time and opportunity for your child to read every day.
Make sure your child has a relaxed, comfortable place to read – such as a couch, chair, or comfortable floor.
Listen to your child read.
Let him or her hold the book.
Be your child’s listening ear. Help with pronunciation as needed.
Help older children to read fluently and with feeling.
Encourage older children to bring home books they really want to read.
Sign your child’s log sheet after he or she reads.
Encourage your child to buy books and build his or her personal library at home.
Set a good example for your child by sharing your own reading experiences. Children are copycats – if they see you read, they will read, too.
Stay in contact with your child’s teacher about his or her reading progress.
Keep it fun! Be sure not to test your child on the reading. Just enjoy it!
Questions and Tips
What is an independent reader? An independent reader is a child who has the ability to retell and talk about what he or she has read with a strong understanding. Independent readers should make no more than two errors for each 100 words read. An independent reader does not have to be reminded to do his or her reading.
What if a book seems too easy? Although a book may seem too easy to you, if your child is enjoying it, he or she is learning to like reading. Children who learn to like reading, and spend more time doing it, are the children who become good readers. The words shouldn’t be hard.
My kindergartener does not read, but is just looking at the pictures. Is this normal? Yes. This is great! Looking at pictures is what children at this level should be doing. Pictures serve as clues to stories, and “pretend-reading” is a first step in the right direction. Looking at pictures for clues, pointing at the first letter of words, and getting their mouths ready to make first letter sounds are exactly what kindergarteners should be doing as a first step to reading.
What if my child does not enjoy reading? Often, reading with your child helps to build interest. Make sure the book he or she is reading is not too challenging – make sure your child is reading within his or her level. Your child’s teacher will be able to help you with this. Books that deal with subject matter your child is interested in are always the right way to spark enthusiasm. Make sure the TV isn’t an option during reading time. It is very hard to choose reading over TV. Bedtime is often a good time for reading.
How do I know when my child is ready to try a higher-level book? When your child is reading books at his or her currently level very fluently – that is, the books are fun, fast, and easy – you may suggest that he or she try a book at the next level. The child should also continue to read books at lower levels. Don’t push. Watch your child and make sure he or she is enjoying reading. Don’t let your child get stuck in a book that is too hard.
Make sure your child practices reading for at least 30 minutes at home every day. Just like it takes practice to become a better singer, dancer, or football player, it takes practice to become a better reader. Use the 100 Book Challenge reading log sheets to keep track of daily reading practices.
Know your child’s “Just Right” reading level. Encourage your child to read whatever books he or she wants, as long as they books are a good fit.
If your child is not yet in the habit of reading for fun, set some goals and establish rewards for meeting those goals. For example, “If you read for 30 minutes every night for one month, I’ll take you to ___, or buy you ___, or allow you to ___.”
Home Coaching Tips:
Be your child’s home reading coach.
Provide the time and opportunity for your child to read every day.
Make sure your child has a relaxed, comfortable place to read – such as a couch, chair, or comfortable floor.
Listen to your child read.
Let him or her hold the book.
Be your child’s listening ear. Help with pronunciation as needed.
Help older children to read fluently and with feeling.
Encourage older children to bring home books they really want to read.
Sign your child’s log sheet after he or she reads.
Encourage your child to buy books and build his or her personal library at home.
Set a good example for your child by sharing your own reading experiences. Children are copycats – if they see you read, they will read, too.
Stay in contact with your child’s teacher about his or her reading progress.
Keep it fun! Be sure not to test your child on the reading. Just enjoy it!
Questions and Tips
What is an independent reader? An independent reader is a child who has the ability to retell and talk about what he or she has read with a strong understanding. Independent readers should make no more than two errors for each 100 words read. An independent reader does not have to be reminded to do his or her reading.
What if a book seems too easy? Although a book may seem too easy to you, if your child is enjoying it, he or she is learning to like reading. Children who learn to like reading, and spend more time doing it, are the children who become good readers. The words shouldn’t be hard.
My kindergartener does not read, but is just looking at the pictures. Is this normal? Yes. This is great! Looking at pictures is what children at this level should be doing. Pictures serve as clues to stories, and “pretend-reading” is a first step in the right direction. Looking at pictures for clues, pointing at the first letter of words, and getting their mouths ready to make first letter sounds are exactly what kindergarteners should be doing as a first step to reading.
What if my child does not enjoy reading? Often, reading with your child helps to build interest. Make sure the book he or she is reading is not too challenging – make sure your child is reading within his or her level. Your child’s teacher will be able to help you with this. Books that deal with subject matter your child is interested in are always the right way to spark enthusiasm. Make sure the TV isn’t an option during reading time. It is very hard to choose reading over TV. Bedtime is often a good time for reading.
How do I know when my child is ready to try a higher-level book? When your child is reading books at his or her currently level very fluently – that is, the books are fun, fast, and easy – you may suggest that he or she try a book at the next level. The child should also continue to read books at lower levels. Don’t push. Watch your child and make sure he or she is enjoying reading. Don’t let your child get stuck in a book that is too hard.