Once is never enough! – Encourage your child to re-read favorite books. Re-reading helps children read more quickly and accurately.
Dig deeper into the story – Ask your child questions about the story you've just read. Say something like, "Why do you think he did that?"
Take control of the television – It's difficult for reading to compete with TV and video games. Encourage reading as a distraction free activity.
Be patient – When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind to child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.
I read to you, you read to me – Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy this special time with their parents.
One more time with feeling – When your child has sounded out an unfamiliar word, have him or her re-read that sentence. Often kids are so busy figuring out a word they lose the meaning of what they've just read.
Ideas for making marks at home
· Allow your child to use different writing implements to practise their writing such as special pens, felt tips or paintbrushes
· Make letter shapes using playdough or plasticine
· Sky writing – draw big letters in the air
· Use index finger to make letter shapes in salt, sand, flour, paint, rice, oats, foam – be inventive!
· Use a toy car or train to make a letter
· Write with chunky chalks outside
· Use thick paintbrushes and water to draw letters on outside walls or on the ground
Remember to have fun with them.