Read Aloud - Remember that everyone enjoys hearing someone read aloud to them. Try reading a story to a family member or friend just for fun, and then ask them to read to you. Perhaps you want to share our weekly reading story with someone at home. Teach them about the new vocabulary words that you have learned. Test them by asking questions about the story, as Miss McCabe does in class. Some sample questions include: What is this selection about?, Why would someone write about this?, What do you think will happen next?, How would you summarize what was read?, How was this selection similar or different from other stories you've read?
Reading Newspapers and Magazines -You may think that reading the newspaper and magazines is only for adults. That is not true! There are plenty of newspaper and magazine articles that may interest you. First, skim the headings to select an article. Read the first paragraph to see if it really does interest you. If so, read on. Discuss the article with a family member to see if they agree or disagree with the author's point of view. Compare your ideas about the article. Once you decide what your topic of interest is, perhaps you can subscribe to a kids' magazine that has plenty to read about on that topic. A few examples are Sports Illustrated for Kids, American Girl, and National Geographic Kids.
Paired Reading - Read together with a friend or family member. This can be done with people of all ages. You can help to show a young child how to read smoothly or read along with an older sibling or adult so that they can assist you with difficult words. Both people read aloud at the same time, helping each other along the way. This is a fun and easy way to read.
A Reading Journal - Keep a reading journal about the stories or books that you read. Use a notebook that you can write and draw in. Decorate the notebook however you would like. Write about what you read each day and draw a picture of your favorite part. This can be kept private or brought in to school for show and tell. It may even earn you a reward from the teacher! If you need a notebook for this activity, let Miss McCabe know!