1. When my child is reading, is looking at the pictures cheating?
2. Should I help my child spell words in their homework?

When my child is reading, is looking at the pictures cheating?

No!  This is one of the first reading strategies children will use to decode 
an unfamiliar word.  A child will look at the picture for clues as to what 
the word might be.  Then the child will apply other strategies, like looking 
at the first letter of the word, to decide if it matches up to the word that 
he/she thinks it may be.

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Should I help my child spell words in their homework?

Parents should help their child "stretch" out words for the child to listen 
to the sounds that he/she hears in the word.  Then parents should encourage 
their child to write what he/she hears.  This reinforces the strategy that 
is taught in the classroom.
Parents should expect their child to spell any previously covered Spelling 
words correctly.  It may also be helpful to keep an alphabetized list of all 
Sight Words that have also been covered in school. This can be used as a 
reference for correct spelling for the child at home.

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