Reading and Writing
Strategies
The following suggestions are intended to increase your child’s understanding of reading and develop his or her confidence in the learning process.
Reading/Writing Improvement
à Read to your child
à Model good habits by reading in front of your child
à Visit the public library frequently
à Limit TV or video games
à Have your child write the menu for dinner
à Have your child write a shopping list and check off items as you shop
Vocabulary Development
à Notice street & store signs and talk about what they say and mean
à Build vocabulary by:
*Talking about the people you see and the types of jobs they have.
*Talk about the places your going and what you see along the way.
*Ask your child specific things about their day
à Have your child answer questions like:
*The only thing I could think of was….
*One night I woke up so scared that….
*I am happiest when…..
*I was so angry I…….
*A trip I’d like to make……
*On the weekend I’d like to….
à Provide vocabulary skill materials such as workbooks or crossword puzzles
à Play word games like Scattergories® to help develop word choice and categorizing skills
à Read a challenging book out loud to give exposure to higher level words
à Describe objects using similes or metaphors (the car is as red as an apple)
Word Study
à Play word games:
*rhyming words
*synonyms & antonyms
*Hangman® or Scrabble®
à Categorize pictures by people, places or things
à Color code weekly spelling lists
*color consonants blue
*color vowels red
à Circle words in the newspaper or magazine that are in the same word family (words ending in –ing, -able, ect.)
Reading Comprehension
à Read a story or have your child read:
*Have child pick their favorite part
*Think of an alternative solution to a problem
* Predict what will happen next
*Change the ending of the story
*Make up a sequel
à Make up a list of things that could happen, might happen and things that are sure to happen
à Monitor child’s reading by:
*Asking literal questions about the facts
*Asking inferential questions about what they think it means
*Ask critical questions about how they might use the information. (Why did the author use this particular word? How could the author have explained this better?)
à Compare and contrast movies and videos with previously read books
à Provide high interest literature, including magazines
à Read newspaper articles and discuss the events in the news
à After watching a movie, have your child recall the movie from beginning to end in the correct order, using details.
à When reading together, ask the child “wh” questions (Who? What? Where? When? Why?) to see if they’re comprehending.
Writing
à Encourage your child to keep a journal (travel, family events, feelings)
à Encourage letter writing, pen pals, thank you notes.
à Have your child write a story, song, poem or article about a family event and then read it back to an adult.
à Encourage your child to write letters requesting information or commending some person in the news.
Math Strategies
The following strategies are intended to help your child to increase his or her understanding of mathematics and develop their confidence in the learning process.
Mathematics Improvement
à Encourage participation in enrichment activities outside the classroom
à Provide activities that enrich and relate mathematics to daily life:
*Talk about how many bowls to put out for dinner
*Fold napkins in different shapes
*Count similar items as you put away groceries
*Measure ingredients for recipes
*Give your child change to count out in order to pay for small purchases at the store; have an older child calculate the change
*Compare prices of items: Which can of beans cost more?
*Weigh fresh produce, older children can calculate the price by multiplying the price per pound by the number of pounds
using a calculator to add up the prices for different purchases.
Computation
à Count orally by twos, fives, or tens
à Count and pair objects around the house, determine whether there’s an odd or even number of items
à Review math facts at home, in the car, waiting in line or other downtime
à Provide your child with verbal math problems: Take the number. 5, add 6, multiply by 3, subtract 3, divide by 5, what’s my answer
à Read nutrition labels
Geometry
à Look around the house for geometric shapes
à Use household objects (toothpicks, marshmallows, twist ties) to construct shapes
à Recognize real-world examples of right angles
à Fold a sheet of paper in ½ and child draws a shape on fold, cut out shape and unfold to see symmetrical shape
Measurement
à Have child set kitchen timer while cooking
à Draw an analog clock face with hour and minutes, give your child a time to draw in clock
à Arrange objects by size & measurements
à Use a standard measuring tool to measure objects around house
à Review equivalent names for measurements, (how many cups in a pint?)
Statistics/Probability
à Open a pack of Skittles/M&M’s and make a bar graph
à Find coordinates on a state map
à Write down temp. for each day, then graph the weather temperatures for the week
à Track the scores of ball games, then graph scores over several weeks
Problem Solving
à Encourage child to figure out answers to real-life situations: “We have one can of tuna and we need five, how many more do we need to buy?”
à Ask questions that involve equal sharing. (Seven children share 49 baseball cards, how many cards does each child get?)
à Look up the population and land area of the state and city in which you live and compare these facts with those of other cities.
Algebraic Concepts
à Encourage your child to count and recognize pattern and color in the environment by discussing what they see.
à Look for patterns on building, rugs, floors and clothing
(adapted from NWEA)