Creative Ways to Get My Child to Read
  • Buddy Reading
  • Reading to a pet or stuffed animal
  • Read into a microphone
  • Record your child reading
  • Call Grandparents or other relative to read to


What Should My Child Do If He/She Does Not Know a Word?
  • Look at the first letter and think of a word that begins with that sound and would make sense in the sentence. (K,1)
  • Look at the picture for clues. (K,1)
  • Skip it and go on. Then go back and read the whole sentence again. (K,1)
  • Say the isolated sounds of the word 3 times, and then try to blend the sounds together.
  • Look for small words you know within the larger word.
  • Circle, or put your finger over, prefixes and suffixes and then decode the base word in the middle.


Spelling Practice
  • Put a finger down for each sound in the word. As you put each finger down, write the letter that makes that particular sound. - For words that follow the basic phonics rules.
  • Write the word saying each letter aloud as you write it. Trace each letter in the word saying the name of the letter aloud. Repeat this procedure 2 more times. Turn the paper over and see if you can spell the word without looking.- For words that do not follow the basic phonics rules- sight words.
  • Write words with common vowel patterns with a colored marker. Trace over the word two more times with different colored markers.
  • Continue practicing spelling words even after the weekly test because students should apply their spelling in daily writing.

How Should I Check to Make Sure My Child Is Understanding What He/She Reads?
  • After your child reads a paragraph, have them describe or draw a picture that was created in their mind. Their picture should include what, size, color, number, shape, where, movement, mood, background, perspective, when, sound.
  • Ask questions and talk about your child's reading.
    • Before Reading
      • Make connections - What do you already know about _(topic of the story)_?
      • Make predictions - What do you think this story is going to be about?
      • Take a picture walk - Browse through the story and discuss what is happening in the pictures before reading.
    • During Reading
      • Make predictions - What do you think is going to happen next? Why?
      • Identify characters, setting, & problem - Who is this story about? Where are they? What is happening to the character(s)?
    • After Reading
      • Confirm predictions - Did the story end the way you thought it would?
      • Make connections - Has anything ever happened to you like it did with the character in the story?
      • Retell the story - Have your child briefly tell you what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story.