How Parents Can Help Their Child(ren)

How to Help Your Child

How can I help my child when he/she is struggling with reading?

• Before your child reads a book, he/she should: do a picture walk, make connections with the pictures (What does this story remind him/her of? What is happening in the pictures?), and make predictions about what the story will be about. This sets a purpose for reading ~ to confirm or revise predictions.

• Try echo reading. The parent reads a page or paragraph aloud, and the child immediately reads it back.

• Try choral reading. The parent and child reads text aloud at the same time.

• Try partner reading. The parent and child each takes a turn reading a page or paragraph aloud.

• Have your child get into the practice of stating who/what each page or paragraph is about after it is read. Comprehension is even more important than decoding (sounding out) the words.

• Have your child practice these chunks in words for instant word recognition.

• Have your child follow along to books on tape or CD.

• Read aloud to a pet.

• Choose books that your child finds interesting.

• If your child is stuck on a word, he/she should figure out the word on his/her own. Say the beginning letter sound, look for chunks he/she may know, sound it out, use context clues, letter/sound patterns they know. The Decoding Dragon poster above can help you. LAST RESORT-tell them the word as not to disrupt the flow of their reading and have them reread the sentence correctly.

• KEEP READING! Children learn to read by reading and by hearing fluent readers.

IT IS OKAY TO REREAD YOUR CHILD’S FAVORITE BOOKS OVER AND OVER!

Twelve Comprehension Strategies

Keep scrolling to learn about the WHY, WHEN, HOW of:

• Monitor/Clarify

• Predict

• Make Connections

• Infer

• Ask Questions

• Summarize

• Subtext

• Visualize

• Retell

• Synthesize

• Nonfiction Text Features

Credit: Judith Araujo M Ed. CAGS

Reading with Your Child

Read to your child every day ~ at least 20 minutes each day! There is much research on the importance of reading aloud. Show that reading is FUN! Talk about the pictures, events, favorite parts. Reading aloud will expose your child to new words, ideas, places, events, and more complex plots and sentences than beginning reading books have to offer. If your child is learning to read he/she can read those books. YOU, however, should be reading more difficult picture books to your child, such as the child’s library books.

Top 10 reasons why you should read aloud to your child:

1. Your child will feel the love and attention. Cuddle up together in a spot and make this time special.

2. It encourages your child to become a reader/better reader when the parent acts as a role model.

3. Listening to stories develops attention spans.

4. Books help imaginations S O A R!

5. The illustrations will help your child appreciate art.

6. Books pass on parental values.

7. Books are fun!

8. Listening to a story read aloud well is magical to a child.

9. This time with your child will create a lifetime of memories.

10. Every teacher and librarian will thank you!

Credit: Judith Araujo M Ed., CAGS

Allow me to share some helpful tips to assist you in answering, “What books should my child be reading?”

• DRA/Lexile levels are not labels and should not limit your child’s reading choices. Children have different reading levels- independent, instructional and interest. You may use your child’s DRA/Lexile level as a guide to help you find books that your child can read independently. If you are not sure where to begin, the Weehawken Township Public Library has created a list of books leveled according to DRA level from which your child can choose. Please visit the circulation desk at the library to see the list.

• Children should be reading books that interest them. They should be reading a variety of books from both ends of the reading spectrum including ‘easy reads’ to more challenging text depending on the child’s mood or interest level. Most of the reading your child does should be books that are around his/her reading level. Reading books below his/her reading level can improve fluency and accuracy. Reading books at their reading level can increase reading stamina, enhance comprehension and build character knowledge.

Almost any reading is good reading!

Here are a few more suggestions to make reading pleasurable:

• Graphic novels are becoming more popular so look into them if you have not yet done so. Yes, it is real reading!

• Go to the Library! The Weehawken Public Library has many different book clubs, as well as, a variety of other activities.

• Allow your child to choose books they are interested in. Choice increases engagement and makes reading more purposeful.

• Reread books! Repeated readings allow young readers to notice new things with each reading.

• Read aloud to your child. Reading aloud allows the brain to focus on making meaning.

• Retell or act out a story.

Reading is exercise for the brain much like lifting weights is for our arms. Have your child do some lightweight lifting (read 'easy' books), A LOT of middle weight lifting (read books around their reading level) and some heavyweight lifting (read challenging books) to keep his/her brain in shape.