WHAT CAN YOU DO AT HOME?
The best thing you can do as a parent is READ, READ, READ! Read to them and have them read to you. Your children work very hard all day at school so my suggestion is to have fun and enjoy your reading time with your child.
BE SUPPORTIVE
~Let your child's interests guide you
~Praise their approximations and attempts
BE POSITIVE
~Focus on what your child is doing correctly
~Praise attempts that show good reasoning, even if the outcome is incorrect
BE MEANING-ORIENTED
~DO NOT COVER THE PICTURES!
~Read to and with your child
~Introduce the story
~Read predictable books, poetry, nursery ryhmes and folktales
~Read and REREAD their favorites-it's OK!
BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL
~Model the joy and usefulness of reading
~Discuss interesting new words and their meanings
~Reread to clarify a word or idea
~Sound expressive and fluent when reading to your child
BE STRATEGIC
~Instead of giving a difficult word immediately ask "What would make sense there? or What would sound right? or What would look right?, or Does that look right?"
~Resist the temptation to tell them they are right ask " Are you right?"
~Allow them time to figure it out
BE HELPFUL
~Encourage your child to read books that are at a comfortable level for them. Reading does not improve when books are too frustrating
~Ask "How did you know that?" to clarify his thinking
BE RELEVANT
~Make reading and writing usefull
~Have your child read maps, menus, cookbooks
~Create grocery lists, write letters, design cards, etc.
HAPPY READING!