ABC’s of Reading

• A ALLOW time each day to spend reading with your child.
• B BE a reading model! Let your child see you reading.
• C CREATE an interest in reading by reading aloud books suitable to your child’s age and interest.
• D DO start out with short stories—gradually build your child’s attention span.
• E ENRICH your child’s learning experiences through books.
• F FOCUS your child’s attention on the book you are reading by showing and discussing pictures.
• G GLANCE through the book before you read it to your child so that you are familiar with it.
• H HAVE your child sit close to you when you are reading so that you are sharing the book.
• I INCREASE your child’s listening and speaking vocabularies by explaining unfamiliar words.
• J JOIN your public library so that you have access to a variety of books.
• K KEEP your child’s books in view in easy-to-get places.
• L LISTEN to your child tell stories from books, even if he/she can’t read all the words in the book.
• M MENTION the author and title of the book each time you read to your child.
• N NURTURE your child’s imagination by selecting different kinds of stories such as rhyming books, fairy tales, animal stories, mysteries, and adventures.
• O OPEN the door to the world of reading. Read daily to your child.
• P PASS ON the pleasure of reading by building memories your child can treasure.
• Q QUOTE the characters in a story meaningfully by changing the tone of your voice.
• R READ, read, read!
• S STIMULATE interest before reading by sharing experiences.
• T TALK about the books you have read together.
• U USE expression when reading aloud so that the story will come to life.
• V VISIT a book store often and give books as presents.
• W WHENEVER you can, create…
• X EXCITEMENT about reading: it’s great.
• Y YOU can encourage reading with…
• Z ZEST! Be excited and the books will do the rest.

--Author Unknown