Reading at Home

Please click on any of the subjects to help your student at home with reading:
  1. How do I make sure my student is reading for meaning?
  2. What should I do when my student comes across a word they do not know?
  3. How can I support my student in self-checking while reading?
  4. How should my student pick a "Good Fit Book"?
  5. What are Dolch words?



How do I make sure my student is reading for meaning?

 Make sure that your student is reading for meaning 
by asking the following questions:
"Does that make sense?"
"Look at the pictures. Do they fit what you 
just read?"
What happened in the story when...?
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What should I do when my student comes across a word they do not know?

First of all, don't give your student the word 
right away! Instead, try the following clues:
-Does that sound right?
-What letter/sound does the word start with?
-Look at the pictures, and use them as clues.
-Can you break the word apart and find smaller 
words within it?

If your student has not successfully read the word 
after 3-4 attempts, go ahead and help them 
sound it out.  Afterward, have your student re-read 
the word on their own!
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How can I support my student in self-checking while reading?

Self-checking is a important characteristic of 
successful readers. Here are some ways you can 
encourage your student to self-check:

-Why did you stop?
-Where is the tricky part?
-Try it again?
-Is that right?
-How do you know?
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How should my student pick a "Good Fit Book"?

Follow the "I PICK" strategy:
I look at a book
Purpose (Why do I want to read it?)
Interest (Does it interest me?)
Comprehend (Am I understanding?)
Know (I know most of the words.)
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What are Dolch words?

This list of 220 words, prepared by E.W. Dolch, 
generally make up from 50 to 75 percent of the 
reading material encountered by students. These 
words are generally known as DolchWords, high-
frequency words, or "sight words". - 
www.literacyconnections.com

For a list of 2nd grade Dolch words please go to 
the "downloads" page.
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