Turn on the closed captions on the screens they watch! Bonus if you can watch shows that connect with what they are learning in science or social studies!
Have books available and out where they are seen. Go to the library!
These can be any books - nonfiction picture books are great! If you see your child looking at it, ask them a question about it. What is interesting on that page? or Oooo! That's cool! Wait, what does it say? (Then you read it aloud to them.) Ask if there's anything they would like you to read aloud. When reading, trace your finger under the words so they can follow along.
Play a word chain game.Â
Can you think of things in the forest that start with the /t/ sound? (tree, tiger, toad, turtle...) Can you think of anything to do with transportation that starts with the /s/ sound? (subway, steering, street, sidecar, signal, scooter, seatbelt)
Level it up. Can we make a word chain where the last sound becomes the first sound of the next word? (car, rat, tree, eagle, lion, notebook, cat, turtle, loud, dog, goat, tiny, eraser)
Go over papers brought home.
Repetition is a great way to gain fluency and vocabulary - two major components of reading. Ask your child to read some of their work to you! Science study guides, social studies work, questions from a reading assessment, word problems in math, etc. Reading content area work builds content area fluency and grade level vocabulary! Ask questions about the work: What about this assignment did you get right away? What questions did you have to take your time with? How did you know this was the right answer?