Reading

Does your child:	Yes	Not Yet
...enjoy getting a book for a present?
...have many books of her/ his own and a special place to keep them?
...recognize her/his first name?
...like you to read to her/ him?
...read stories or verses to you? (e.g., shares verses or stories read at school; reads or pretends to read her/ his library books)
...try to read in everyday situations? (e.g., street signs, store signs, cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, TV advertisements)
...try to talk about or retell the stories or verses heard at school?
...try to read along with you on favorite parts of the story or sentences that are repeated over and over again?
...see you reading (books, magazines, letters, newspapers, recipes, etc.)
...know any nursery rhymes by heart?

Reading Tips

To become skilled, lifelong writers, children need encouragement and support as they begin the writing process. They'll play at writing, like they play at reading. Ask them to read what they've written. Children go through various stages of writing development. These stages include scribbling, drawing pictures, and pretend writing.

BEFORE reading a story:
Introduce the book, discussing the cover, title, author and illustrator.
Look at the pictures to discover what the story is about.
Discuss special or new words that are in the story.
Talk about places, people, and things in the story with which your child is familiar.
Remember to keep the introduction simple and quick.

DURING the story reading:
Allow time for your child to look at and talk about the pictures. (Pictures and illustrations are very important.)
Talk with your child about the characters and story events.
Ask questions: What do you think, is happening? How would you feel if that happened? What might happen next? (prediction) Would you ever do that? Did you think that would happen?
Allow your child to ask questions as you read and answer his/ her questions.
Accept and be positive about your child's responses to your questions.

AFTER the story reading:
Go back to the beginning and have your child turn the pages and share comments or questions he/ she might still have. Have your child retell the story to you.
Compare the story situations to your child's experiences.
Could you do that? Has that ever happened to you? Did we ever do that?

Parents can help this process by:

Providing a wide variety of books for your child, including nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
Providing a library card for your child.
Providing a special place for your child to keep her/ his books.
Giving your child books as presents.
Making reading a part of your daily routine.
Providing a place to read that is comfortable and quiet.
Providing a wide variety of reading materials (magazines, newspapers, recipes).
Accepting your child's "pretend reading."
Pointing out print in the environment (signs, cereal boxes, restaurants).
Reading your child's favorite stories over and over again.
Allowing your child to select the story that she/ he would like to hear.

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Did You Know?

Reading

Reading Tips