Reading Aloud with your Child
Take 15-20 minutes 3 times a week at a convenient time such as after school or before dinner and any time during the weekend days. At bedtime children can be quite tired and not able to practice reading aloud as effectively as they would be earlier in the day. Bedtime is a nice time for you to read aloud to your child. Reading together can be a very special and positive experience to share. You can even find a cozy and quiet corner to read in or a comfy spot to sit with a cozy blanket.
Tips:
Praise and encourage your child often
Follow your child’s interests when helping choose books
Try alternating sentences or paragraphs, depending on what your child is capable of on that day
Allow time after each book to discuss what most interested you both about the story
Ask questions that require more of a response than yes or no or nodding. (“What do you predict will happen next?”)
Be patient and encouraging
Don’t overcorrect or interrupt your child
Praise your child for self-correcting
Some indicators that the text is too hard include having to sound out more than one out of five words or reading very slowly, one word at a time
Praise often with phrases like, “You did it! You read the whole page/book on your own! How does it feel to be a reader?”
Kindergarten and First Grade Readers:
If your child is reading a short book such as 3-letter word books for sounding out and learning early sight words, you can have your child read the book three times:
First time for sounding out and identifying sight words
Second time for comprehension
Third time for fluency (reading at a faster rate)
This way your child will feel improvement and success. If the book is too challenging, try starting with something simpler.