READING
Helping your child with Reading
Some of the characteristics of a good reader are:
People who enjoy reading
People who read aloud well
People who can read accurately from a range of texts
People who understand what they are reading
People who can read quickly
You can help by:
Reading with your child/children little and often
Reading a variety of texts
Recognising that it is good when they want to reread a familiar text
Letting them choose their own books
Making reading an enjoyable experience
Before you start reading:
Talk about the book
Read the blurb if it is a new book (usually on the back cover)
Talk about the front cover, the pictures, the author. Do you know any other titles by him or her?
Talk about what the story might be about and what the characters might be like
Relate the story to your child's own experience. Have you done anything like this?
While you are reading:
Pause if the child makes a mistake
Give them time to self-correct, leave a few seconds or wait until the end of the sentence
If the child still can't read the word see if they know the initial sound
Split the word into syllables - try bits
Refer to the pictures for clues
Ask them what would make sense in the sentence
If the child is still stuck after 2 prompts, tell them the word
Praise the child as they read
Praise specifics rather than giving general praise such as reading difficult words, self-correcting without your help, reading a word they have previously got wrong or for reading fluently.