1. Early Reading Helping your child to read

2. Listening Children need to hear the beginning and ending sounds of words –Sing together –Play “patty-cake” –Read rhyme books

3. Repeating Children need to be able to remember and repeat directions. –Do finger plays. * Marc Brown’s books Hand Rhymes or Party Rhymes have easy directions. –Ask your child to do two- and three-step activities: “Go upstairs. Get your jacket. Bring it to me in the laundry.”

4. Retelling a story Read a short book together (parent reads, child listens). Parent retells the story. Child retells the story. –When you model the activity, you show your child how to do it. This is very good parenting.

5. Read aloud Read aloud daily. Read easy, quick stories. As your child ages, he/she will want to hear longer stories. Children understand ideas that are more difficult than what they can read on their own. Select books 1-2 reading levels above your child’s reading level.

6. Read to your child Reading together fosters a close family environment. When you read aloud together, you expose your child to new ideas. When you read, you show your child that reading is important to you.

7. Select books on your child’s reading level When books are too hard, the child becomes frustrated. Choose books that can be easily read.

8. New reader? Choose books that repeat phrases. Choose books with few words on a page. Choose books with pictures to help understanding.

9. Most importantly Have fun with books! Parent resources: www.readaloudva.org www.readingrockets.org