Reading at Home

• Have your child read, or you read to them at least 20 to 30 minutes daily.
• Make reading a habit.  Model reading often in front of your child.
• Always have books available for your child.  Use the public library!
• Choose appropriate reading material.  Don’t forget to include different types of material: non-fiction, the kids section from newspapers, kids magazines, even cereal boxes!
• Involve your child in reading.  Enjoy the cover of the book together, discuss the author (many author’s have cool websites), and make predictions about what might happen in the story.  Ask your child, “What is the main thing that happened on this page?” Also, find details to ask your child, such as: “What happened after…?”  “What did you think about…?” 
• If your time is short, enlist the talents of older siblings, baby sitters, grandparents, etc.  If your t.v. has closed captioning, turn it on while watching educational shows such as Clifford, Arthur or Between the Lions.
• Use books on tapes in the car.  They can be checked out of the local library.
• Children love to read their own writing.  When they finish a story, have them share it.  We do it in class all the time, let them do it at home.
• Keep reading to your child, even after they can read for themselves!  This is a great bonding time and introduces them to harder text.