Great Reading Habits

Great Reading Habits!

MOO-VE Your Child into Great Reading Habits!

HOW TO FIGURE OUT A HARD WORD.

1. Put your finger on the word and say all the letters. (You want to make sure they have looked at all the letters in the right order. Many times children will be able to read the word just by using this simple strategy.)

2. Use the letters and the picture clues. (We want children to read for meaning –looking at the picture and thinking about the story. We also want them to read for visual cues at the same time – looking at the letters and patterns in words. Children who learn to use both meaning and visual cues at the same time become great readers.)

3. Look for rhyme you know. (I child needs to learn to look for parts of words they know to help them figure out unknown words. For example, a child who knows the word “it” can use this to help him figure out the word “split.” To help your child with this strategy, cover the “spl” and show them the small part the/she does know.)

4. Keep your finger on the word and finish the sentence and pretend it’s the covered word. (When a child skips the word to finish the rest of the sentence, he can use the meaning of the sentence to help him/her figure out the unknown word)

WHAT ABOUT COMPREHENSION?

Children who read most, read best. Whether 15 minutes or 45 minutes a night, children become better readers by practicing.

When helping your children read a book, always focus on the meaning of the story. Our purpose for reading should be to enjoy the story. By helping children think about the story, we are improving their comprehension. Talk about the pictures in the story and/or ask questions about the story. Some generic questions include the following:

1. Where did the story take place?

2. When did it happen? Why did it happen?

3. What is the main thought in the story?

4. Does the title tell what the story is mostly about?

5. Tell in your own words what the book is about.

6. Who is the main character in this book?

7. Describe the character. Do you like the person? Why? Why not?

8. Tell 5 events in the order that they happened.

9. What happened before __________?

10. What do you think was meant by ________?

11. How do you think ____ felt when that happened?

12. What do you think will happen after the story ended?

13. Does this story make you think of something that happened to you?

14. Compare two characters or events in the book.

15. What did you like best in the story? Why?

16. Who was your favorite character?

17. Was there a problem to solve? If so, what was it and how was it solved? How would you have solved it?

Thank you for caring about your child’s growth as a reader. You are a major part of his/her education. Together we can make a difference!