Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How can I help my child when he/she has trouble reading a word?
- What if my child's reading homework is too hard?
- What if my child has the book memorized?
How can I help my child when he/she has trouble reading a word?
It is important for your child to become independent at solving an unknown
word. First ask him/her what he/she could try to figure it out. If he/she
needs prompting, suggest the following strategies: 1)Think about the story.
(The picture may help.) 2)Look for a part you know. (Ex: out in shouted) 3)
Reread up to the tricky word and start it as soon as you get to the word. 4)
Try it a different way. (If the letter B doesn't work, try the letter D.
Children often confuse these so they can learn to try it both ways. If the
short vowel sound doesn't work, try the long vowel sound.) 5)Tell the child
the word.
What if my child's reading homework is too hard?
Chime in and read with him/her. You can read a page and ask him/her to read
the next page. If he/she is really tired or stressed, just finish the story
by reading it to him/her. This is still a valuable activity because they
will hear how fluent reading sounds. Forcing a child through a text that is
too difficult will not help them improve their reading ability. Some
experts believe that it may actually break down their reading process.
What if my child has the book memorized?
Reading an easy book is the best way to build fluency. Just make sure your
child is really looking at the words. (Watch their eyes.) If they won't
look at the words, tell them to get a good look at the picture. Then cover
the picture and tell them to "hold the picture in their head" as they read
the words. This is the skill they will use when they read chapter books.
Comprehension is the purpose for reading. Please do not cover the picture
until your child has looked at it and please do not ask them to read the
book backwards or to read the words in isolation. It is good to locate high
frequency words in text, though. (Ex.: and, the, come, here, my,)