EARLY READING

In this phase readers are able to read unfamiliar texts slowly and deliberately as they focus on reading exactly what is on the page. Readers are beginning to reflect on their own strategies for "working out" unknown words. They sometimes comment on and question texts. A child may read word-by-word or line-by-line when reading an unfamiliar text. They have a bank of sight words, use picture cues and knowledge of context to help with understanding, and rely heavily on beginning letters and sounding out for word identification.

Parent Tips:

• Continue to read to your child every day.
• Vary the type of books read, e.g. short stories, poems, non fiction, mystery, humor, fairy tales, magazines
• When reading to your child stop sometimes and ask "What do you think might happen net?"
• Accept the child's answers even though they may not seem right.
• Occasionally ask some "why" questions about the story, "why do you think the author put that bit in the story?"
• Talk about books your child has read at school.
• Take your child to the local library regularly and to any story telling sessions that are advertised.
• Buy books as presents to commemorate special occasions.
• Talk about the things you read-newspapers, magazines, books, etc.
• Browse together in book shops.
• Talk about books you are reading together.
• Compare characters with real people.
• Accept your child's efforts with praise, concentrate on all the things he/she does right, not on the few errors.
• Have plenty of scrap paper, pencils, felt pens and crayons on the child's table or desk.
• Give a diary, birthday book or notebook for Christmas or holiday.
• Talk about illustrations to see if they match what is in the child's or your mind.
• Leave notes around the house or under your child's pillow.
• Point out the author's name before reading a book and encourage your child to read other books by that author.
• If your child makes a mistake when he or she is reading aloud, allow time for self-correction.
• If the mistake makes sense, ignore it.
• Encourage your child to write messages to other family members.
• Encourage your child to write letters, postcards, lists, messages, and thank you notes.
• Accept spelling mistakes.
• Encourage your child to make birthday/holiday cards and party invitations.
• Children can write their own greetings and verses.
• Buy your child games that provide simple instructions to read and follow.
• Play word games.
• Look at the TV guide together and choose a program to watch together.
• Encourage your child to make up plays for the family, acting out stories.
• Some children like to write simple scripts and to draw up a plan for other children to follow.
• Share letters and postcards from friends with the whole family.
• Encourage your child to keep a diary or journal when you go on holidays. This is particularly valuable if you are traveling and your child is missing school.
• Play license plate games in the car, e.g. "silly sentences"-FCF could be "Fat Cows Flying".
• Encourage children to retell stories.
• Involve the family in swapping stories, "I'll tell you a story if you tell me one".

(BVSD)  Superior Elementary School
1800 South Indiana Street * Superior Colorado * 80027
(303) 543-9330 * FAX: (303) 543-9611


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