Reading at Home

Homework Reading

Each week your child brings home three leveled books.  These books are intended to be read multiple times to help develop fluency (meaning it is read in a fluid manner/not choppy or having to sound out each word).  Practice these books multiple times and praise them for using good reading behaviors, such as:

• using their reading finger to make the words on the page match what they say
• looking at the picture to help figure out words
• using the beginning letter or few letters to figure out a tricky word
• making the sound of each letter in a word and blending those sounds to figure it out
• recognizing sight words in books
• recognizing familiar chunks within a word (for example- ch, -ing, an, the, am, sh)
• stopping to think about what they have read or ask questions about the book
• reading something fluently

Praising students using specific praise develops their confidence as a reader and encourages the development of these reading skills!  Reading with your child for 10-15 minutes each day is the number one activity I recommend in helping them become successful in school.  One of my professors said it well, "In grades K-2, students learn to read.  For the rest of their life, they will read to learn."

Questions to ask when reading a book to/with your child

• Before reading
• What do you think this book will be about?
• What do you see on the cover of the book?
• Do you think this book will be nonfiction or fiction?  Why do you think that?
• During reading
• Who are the characters in the story?
• What is the setting of the story?  How do you know?
• After reading
• Why does the title make sense? 
• What did you like about the story?
• What didn't you like about the story?
• What was your favorite part?  Why did you like it?
• What happened in the beginning of the story?  What happened in the middle of the story?  What happened at the end?
• Does the story remind you of anything in your life? (making Text-to-Self connections)
• Was there a problem in the story?  How did it get solved?
• What was this book mostly about? (main idea)

Not all of these questions apply to every book.  Asking a few each time you read will help develop your child's comprehension skills.

If you get a chance, check this out, too- Things NEVER To Say To An Emerging Reader