Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to support your child's reading at home.

Q: My child simply stops reading when s/he comes to a word s/he doesn't know. What can I do to help him/her?

A: Click on the "Tips on Reading with Your Child" link on this page for ides to help your child move through the “tricky parts”.

Q: My child tends to make up words or omits words while reading. What can I do?

A: Parents can help children monitor their oral reading by asking questions. Rather than pointing out the error(s) to your child, help him/her find his/her error(s) with these general statements and questions:

~Try that again. ~Something didn't sound right. See if you can find it.

~Check to see if what you read looks right and makes sense to you.

~You said ______________. Does that make sense?

~You said ______________. Does that sound right?

~You said ______________. Does that look right?

Q: My child is a word-by-word reader. How can I help him/her read with more confidence and more fluency?

A: Children need to know that reading should sound like talking. Model good reading for your child! Rereading familiar books is a great way to enhance your child's self-confidence and improve his/her fluency. Successful rereading gives your child the opportunity to practice the reading strategies learned at school. It also reinforces his/her sight vocabulary, and it motivates your child to read more!! Repeated rereading is most successful when you do the following:

1. Find a quiet time and place for the two of you to work. It is best if you sit side-by-side so you can both see the book. Your child should hold the book and be responsible for turning the pages. Try to keep distractions to a minimum.

2. Allow 5-10 seconds when your child encounters a tricky word. Readers need time to use a variety of strategies independently. They will ask for help if they need it. Ask them what they have done to try to figure out the word. You will find suggestions for helping your child in the box above and from the "Reading Strategies" link on the left side of this page.

3. If your child misreads a word and does not correct it, let him finish the sentence. Allow him/her the opportunity to correct his mistake.

4. Be sure to compliment your child during the reading. Specific praise is important because it encourages your child to use the strategies s/he needs in order to become an independent reader. Specific praise may sound like the following:

I like the way you ...

...looked at the first letter of the word.

...found a chunk that you knew.

...went back to the beginning of the sentence to read it again.

...didn't give up when you got stuck on the word and tried more that one strategy to figure it out.

Your patience and positive support make a big difference in your child's reading success!

Q: Sometimes my child has trouble understanding or forgets what s/he has read. How can I help him/her?

A: Unfortunately, some learners will continue reading even if they are not understanding the material. The READ, COVER, REMEMBER, & RETELL process supports readers by stopping them frequently to think about meaning. Try this with your reader:

*READ only as much as your hand can cover.

*COVER the words with your hand.

*REMEMBER what you have just read (it's okay to take another look).

*RETELL what you just read inside your head or to a partner.

**This is a good technique to use when studying from social studies or science text books**

Additional ideas:

~Ask your child a few questions about the story prior to reading.

~After your child reads orally, have him/her think of a question to ask you. It takes more comprehension to ask a good question than to answer one.

~You and your child can think of a question to ask each other!

Q: I absolutely LOVE reading, but my child is not interested and does not enjoy sitting down to read. Any suggestions??

A: It is heartbreaking to see a child that can read choose not to! Here are some helpful hints from the publishers of Rigby books for turning on a reluctant reader to the wonderful joys of reading:

1. Read aloud, read aloud, read aloud! It does not matter how old your child is; s/he still loves to hear stories read out loud. Seeing you get excited and emotional over a book will make him/her eager to read on his/her own. Don't be surprised if your child asks you to do this more than once a day!

2. Let a child read what interests him/her. This sounds simple enough, but often we read to children what we think they want to read. Talk to your child about his/her interests and try to find books based on that. Reading material may vary from picture books, chapter books, poetry books, comics, to even cookbooks! Get that book in your child's hands and watch him or her read!

3. Get caught reading! Let your child see in you what you want to see in him/her~a lifelong reader. Let your child see you reading your latest novel, the newspaper, or a favorite magazine. Children need to see what reading for enjoyment looks like. Share with them what reading is like for you.

4. Try books on tape. This is a great way to spend a long car ride. Individual headphones give your child the flexibility to read almost anywhere, anytime!

5. Make reading a happy time. Reading should be associated with pleasure, NOT punishment. Every book your child works through builds up their "reading miles", and makes him/her a better, more confident reader. Often this takes time. Encouraging your child to reread familiar, safe books will give him or her the confidence needed to try new reading material!

Have another question? Feel free to contact me. I'll get back to you as soon as possible!