1. Choose a book that you might like.  Look at the cover.  Open the book and look at some of the pictures.  If you are interested in the book you are reading, you will enjoy it more!

2. You should know some of the words.  If you find the book frustrating, or too hard, find an easier book.  Reading should be fun, not frustrating.

3. If you don't understand what you are reading, try an easier book.  Knowing all the words is great, but you should also understand what you are reading.

1. Sound it out.  Look at the beginning sound.  Look for words from word families.

2. Cover the word.  Ask yourself: "What word, with this beginning sound, would make sense in this sentence?"

3. Look for clues in the pictures.

4. Look for words in the words.

5. After trying on your own, ask for help if you need it.

6. When you learn a new word, write it down.  Create a word bank of new words.  Go back and review them.  Once you know a word, you can erase it.

Here are some new word families that we are currently learning in our ESL class.  

Please check back often for updates!

This is the hardest part!  Do you understand what you are reading?  Here are some ideas to help you understand a book.

1. Use the pictures to help you understand.

2. After reading a page, stop and ask yourself what just happened.  If you don't understand what you read, go back and read the page again. If you still don't understand, the book may be too hard.  Try an easier book.

3. Read with a friend or adult.  If you read together, you can help each other understand the book by talking about it.

4. If you don't understand what a word means, ask a friend or an adult.  

5. Make predictions!  Ask yourself: I wonder what will happen next in the story?  If you are reading with a friend or adult, share your predictions!