Reading with your First Grader at home

Don't Leave Home Without it: Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as a doctor's office. Always try to fit in reading!

Once is Not Enough: Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.

Dig Deeper into the Story: Ask your child questions about the story you've just read. Ask Who, What, Where, When, and How questions. Ask your child to explain their thought process/reasoning. 

Be Patient: When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word. Remind them to look for chunks or smaller words with in the bigger word, breaking down the word into smaller pieces. Tapping out the word is great as well. 

Pick Books That are at the Right Level: Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The aim is to give your child lots successful reading experiences. 

Play Word Games: Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat; from sat to sag to sap; and from sap to sip. Change out different parts of the words creating rhyming words. 

I Read to you, you read to me: Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy the special time with their parents.

Gently Correct your Young Reader: When your child makes a mistake, gently point out the letters he or she overlooked or read incorrectly. Many beginning readers will guess wildly at a word based on its first letter. 

Talk, Talk, Talk!: Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into conversation, and build on words you've talked about in the past. 

Write, Write, Write!: Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank you note to Grandma, or to keep a journal of special things that happen at home. When writing encourage your child to use the letter and sound patterns he is learning at school.