Reading Strategies - Reading Together

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break, and that you had enjoyable opportunities to read with your child each day! :)

When a child begins reading lessons, we review strategies found on a special bookmark.  The strategy "language" for the listener is very important in helping a reader determine which strategy is appropriate to use at the point of difficulty, and to help increase the child's use of strategies independently. This in turn helps the child to continue to make progress in reading.  When this strategy "language" is used at home by parents as well as by teachers at school, the child has an even greater opportunity to practice and internalize strategies for successful reading.

When reading with your child at home, it is great to remember these helpful
"Tips and Prompts for the Listener" found on our special bookmark, which I will be sending home with your child again this week.

Wait - Allow thinking time.  (5 - 10 seconds)

 

When the reader is in difficulty, say:

 

"Look at the picture for clues."

 

or say

 

"Get your mouth ready to use phonics. 

Make the beginning sound. 

Read to the end of the sentence. 

Think about what is happening in the story. 

Now reread, think what would make sense."

 

or say

 

"Use the consonant sounds to read the word."

 

or say

 

"Pull your finger through the word,

use phonics, and/or
look for smaller words hiding inside the larger word."

 

or say

 

"Is it _______or ________?"

(Give the student a choice between the correct word and an incorrect word.)

"How did you know?"

 

If an error changes the meaning of the sentence, say:  "Try that again."

 

 

I hope that you find these tips and prompts helpful! 

Have fun reading together with your child!  :)