How to help parents support children in literacy at home.

1. How to Help Your Child with Reading
Chocowinity Primary School 2014-2015
Lauren Buck & Lisa Silva
Reading Recovery® Teachers & Early Literacy Specialists

2. “There is no skill on Earth that
children want to acquire more
than reading.”
~Dr. Marion Blank
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3. 3
The Power of Reading
QUESTION:
What percentage of ALL learning do you think
relies on the ability to read?
a)65%
b)75%
c)85%

4. Ways Parents Can Support
Every Child With Reading
• Serve as a role model and let your child see you
reading AND writing.
• Create a positive learning environment
with established routines.
• Read TO your child daily.
• Read WITH your child daily.
• Take the time to talk about books.
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5. Now…let’s think about some
questions you may ask yourself
while working with your child at
home and discuss SPECIFIC
ways to help in reading and
writing!
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6. Is My Child a Beginning Reader?
Most often, students in K and part of 1st
grade are
considered “beginning readers”.
What to Look For in the Text:
• Strong picture support
• Some patterned text
• Less words on a page/in a book
• Repetition of several basic sight words
• Few new vocabulary words or concepts
• More natural language vs book language
Look at the books on your table and think about
the grade level expectations for your child. 6

7. Supporting Your Child
Before Reading
Complete a Picture/Story Walk.
Especially with any new book.
VIDEO
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8. It seems as though my child just memorizes the
books he brings home. Last night, he told me he
can read it with his eyes closed. Is this okay?
1. Encourage your child to check the picture
each time he/she turns the page, before
reading the words.
2. Tell your child to point
UNDER the words if
needed (at the 1st
letter).
3. In order to read the words,
your child must be looking
at print!

9. 9
My child is bringing home books that are too easy. He can
read books that his older sibling has. Why are we wasting
time reading easy books?
1. Books that are sent home should be easy so
your child builds confidence as a reader.
2. Reading easy books or known books multiple
times also helps build fluency (rate of reading).
3. To avoid frustration we
recommend reading books on or
below your child’s level.
4. If a book seems too hard,
please read it to your child.

10. What do I say or do when my child gets stuck on a
word? I want to help. Do I just give my child the
word?
1. Provide wait time if he/she gets to an unknown word.
2. Point to the picture and let your child think.
3. Prompt your child to reread.
4. After rereading, ask your child to make
the first sound of the tricky word.
5. Provide two choices of possible
words that make sense.
6. Let minor meaningful mistakes go
during the reading.
7. Tell your child unknown vocabulary/concepts. 10

11. Does saying “Sound it Out” work?
• This is a “go-to” strategy most of the time,
however, there are other prompts that can be
used to make it easier for your child.
• Can you sound out…?
– Said, to, my (sight words)
– Lizard, Bear, Hedgehog (concepts)
– James, Harry, Sally (names)
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12. Let’s see how this parent supports
her child while he reads.
• VIDEO
• Think about prompting for what
makes sense, sounds right,
and looks right.

13. 1. Children can begin to read without knowing all
the letters and sounds.
2. Read books aloud to your child.
3. Discuss Letter NAME and Letter SOUND.
4. Alphabet Games (letter/picture)
5. Alphabet Websites (www.starfall.com)
6. Make an Alphabet Book and Practice!
7. Writing! This might even be
through pictures at first. Help
your child stretch unknown
words and listen for sounds. 13
My child still doesn’t know all letters and sounds.
What can I do at home to help?

14. My child seems to know a word one day, but then
forgets it the next day. Should I put all the words on
cards and drill them?
1. It takes many times for a child to learn a new
word (6-10+).
2. It is best to expose children to known sight words
and new words through reading books.
3. Caution: Too much “flash card”
practice may lead your child to
believe that reading is all about
calling words.
4. Limit the number of words you
“flash” with the cards (5-10 at a time).
5. Have your child write them to build reciprocity! 14

15. How do I practice Sight Words with my child
at home?
• My Pile/Your Pile (word cards)
• Flash the Word and Hide It (word cards)
• Uncover the Word (Left-Right Slide)
• Mix & Fix (magnetic letters)
• What’s Missing (whiteboard)
• Write the Word (sandpaper, sand,
table, chalkboard, shave cream, air)
• Spell the Word (verbal)
• Punch the Word (add movement)
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16. I remember a bunch of phonics rules such as: “when 2
vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” Why isn’t
this being taught more?
1. Learning how words work through phonics is
important.
2. Phonics is integrated throughout the day during
classroom instruction.
3. Phonics rules are applicable about
50% of the time and there are
MANY exceptions.
4. Phonics rules make sense to
people who can already read.
This can be confusing to young
or struggling readers. 16

17. Shouldn’t my child learn the phonics rules and sight
words first, then worry about comprehension later?
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1. Comprehension is taught hand-in-hand with word solving
since making meaning is what reading is all about!
2. Allow your child to talk about, draw or write about his/her
favorite part of the story.
3. Talk with your child about story elements
(characters, setting, problem and
solution).
3. Use Response Journals
(written comprehension questions)
4. Use the Five Finger Retell.
VIDEO

18. Praise, Praise, Praise not just
for correct responses, but for
your child’s thinking and effort!
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19. Questions?
Comments?
Please enjoy dinner.
Thank you so much for
coming!