Help Your Child Learn to Read

In order to produce independent readers who monitor and correct themselves as they read, use the following prompts as you are reading together:

-Give your child wait time of 5 to 10 seconds when they get stuck. See what she/he attempts to do.
-Ask, "What would make sense there?"
-Ask, "What do you think the word could be?"
-Say, "Use the picture to help you figure out what it could be."
-Say, "Skip it and go on to the end of the page. Now do you think you know what that word could be?"
-Say, "Put in a word that would make sense there."
-Say, "You read that word before on another page. See if you can find it."
-Say, "Look at the beginning letter and think about what sound that makes."
-Say, "You know another word that has the same sounds. (write the known word on a piece of paper and have the child read it) Now, what is this word?"
-If your child misreads a word, and the misread word does not change the meaning of the story, don't correct at all.
-Always wait until your child has finished the sentence at least before pointing out a misread word, and then say, "Did that make sense when you read __________?
-Use two or three prompts, and if your child still hasn't gotten the correct work, give it to him/her.
-Focus on what your child is doing well and attempting to do. Remain loving and supportive. When your child is having difficulty and trying to use the independent strategies he/she has been shown, make sure you point it out.