HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD BE READY TO
READ AND
READY TO LEARN?
-Talk to your infant and toddler to help him learn to
speak and understand
the meaning of words. Point to objects that are near and
describe them as
you play and do daily activities together. Having a large
vocabulary gives a child a great start when he enters
school.
- Read to your baby every day starting at six months of
age. Reading and
playing with books is a wonderful way to spend special time
with her.
Hearing words over and over helps her become familiar with
them. Reading to your baby is one of the best ways to help
her learn.
- Use sounds, songs, gestures and words that rhyme to
help your baby learn about language and its many uses.
Babies need to hear language from a human being. Television
is just noise to a baby.
- Point out the printed words in your home and other
places you take your child such as the grocery store. Spend
as much time listening to your child as you do talking to
him.
- Take children’s books and writing materials with you
whenever you leave home. This gives your child fun
activities to entertain and occupy him while traveling and
going to the doctor’s office or other appointments.
- Create a quiet, special place in your home for your
child to read, write and draw. Keep books and other reading
materials where your child can easily reach them.
- Help your child see that reading is important. Set a
good example for your child by reading books, newspapers and
magazines.
- Limit the amount and type of television you and your
child watch. Better yet, turn off the television and spend
more time cuddling and reading books with your child. The
time and attention you give your child has many benefits
beyond helping him be ready for success in school.
- Reach out to libraries and community and faith-based
organizations.
These organizations can:
- Help you find age-appropriate books to use at home with
your
child;
- Show you creative ways to use books with your child and
other
tips to help her learn; and
- Provide year-round children’s reading and educational
activities.
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING STRONG
READERS
Without doubt, reading with children spells success for
early literacy. Putting a few simple strategies into action
will make a significant difference in helping children
develop into good readers and writers.
Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and
promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you
can have a powerful impact on children’s literacy and
learning.
- Invite a child to read with you every day.
- When reading a book where the print is large, point
word by word as you read. This will help the child learn
that reading goes from left to right and understand that the
word he or she says is the word he or she sees.
- Read a child's favorite book over and over again.
- Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that
repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point,
word by word, as he or she reads along with you.
- Discuss new words. For example, "This big house is
called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?”
- Stop and ask about the pictures and about what is
happening in the story.
- Read from a variety of children's books, including
fairy tales, song books, poems, and information books.
Reading well is at the heart of all learning. Children who
can't read well, can't learn.
Acquiring strategies to understand, remember and
communicate what is read, or reading comprehension
strategies. Children need to be taught comprehension
strategies, or the steps good readers use to make sure they
understand text. Students who are in control of their own
reading comprehension become purposeful, active readers.
Help make a difference for a child.
