Ways To Help Your Child Read Well

 Five Finger Rule

Here is one way to help your child choose a book.

While reading the first page of a book, count

the unknown words (using fingers to keep track is fine).

If there are five or more, the book is too hard for now.

Read that book together!

Reading Just the Right Book

The book that is just right is one that your child

can read independently. It is not too hard and it is

not too easy. It’s just right for their reading level.

Harder Books

Children have learned to read many words. They

 may even be reading chapter books.  However,

they might not understand what’s being read.

Ask your child questions about the story to see

if they are understanding the story content.

When Your Child Comes To An Unknown Word

Parents will tell a child to “sound out” an unknown word.

Frequently that prompt is successful and the word is decoded. 

When sounding it out doesn’t work, adults usually tell the word

and the reading continues. Our goal is to help children become

independent readers.  Here are some alternative suggestions for

parents to use when your child confronts an unknown word.

*Wait 5-10 sec. to see what attempts are made. Ask:

 “What would make sense there?”

*Use the picture to help figure out the word.

*Skip the word and continue reading to the end of the sentence.

*Go back and read the sentence again.

*If the word was on a previous page, go back and try to find it.

*Look for a smaller word in a big one. (chunk)

*Cover the ending (-ed, -ing) with your finger and try the word.

*Look how the word begins.

*Help with blending (sounding it out).

*Let the sound “pop” right out.

*Tell the word and keep on reading.

*It is important that children learn to use these strategies

independently. When your child “figures out” a word, you might

ask how he/she did it. Telling about their reading helps to

reinforce learning. Always praise their effort!!!

Reading Selection Rules

There are some simple ways to help your child select a

book that is “just right” for him /her to read.

Goldilocks Method

“Too Easy” Books

1.   1.   The book is short.

2.   2.   The print is big.

3.   3.   You have read the book before.

4.   4.   You know all the words in the books.

5.   5.   The book has lots of pictures.

“Too Hard” Books

1.   1.   The book is long.

2.   2.   The print is small.

3.   3.   There aren’t many pictures in the book.

4.   4.   There are a lot of words that you can’t figure out.

5.   5.   There’s no one to help you if you get stuck.

6.   6.   You don’t know much about this subject.

“Just Right” Books

1.   1.   The book looks interesting.

2.   2.   You can figure out most of the words in the book.

3.   3.   Someone has read this book aloud to you.

4.   4.   You have read other books by this author.

5.   5.   There is someone to give you help if you need it.

6.   6.   You know something about this subject.

The Goldilocks Test

Too Easy

1.   1.   Have you read it lots of times before?

2.   2.   Do you understand the story really well?

3.   3.   Do you know almost every word?

4.   4.   Can you read it smoothly?

Just Right

1.   1.   Is this book new to you?

2.   2.   Do you understand a lot of the book?

3.   3.   Are there just a few words on a page that you don’t know?

4.   4.   When you read, are some places smooth and some choppy?

Too Hard

1.   1.   Are there more than 5 words on a page that you don’t know?

2.   2.   Are you confused about what is happening in most of this book?

3.   3.   When you read, does it sound pretty choppy?

4.   4.   Is everyone else busy and unable to help you?

If there are 5 or more unknown words on the page, the book is too

hard for him/her and your child needs to read the book with someone.