- Reading aloud comes easily to very few people. It takes
practice. Be patient with yourself.
- The art of listening takes time. If this is a new
practice for your child it will take time for their
attention span to grow. Start with just a few minutes. Try
to catch your child in a calm state.
- Preview the book beforehand in case there is material
you want to screen out.
- Read slowly! Reading quickly is the most common mistake.
Allow time for building mental pictures.
- Use plenty of expression and tone. Adjust your pace if
necessary (i.e. suspense)
- Start with picture books. Build to storybooks, and then
to novels.
- Follow through with a book - finish short books in one
sitting. Discuss how much of the book you will read during
this sitting.
- Avoid long descriptive paragraphs until their attention
span and imagination can handle it. Shorten or eliminate the
passage. Remember, you are in control.
- Allow time for discussion if the child asks a question,
but don't push or make it a quiz.
- Occasionally read above the child's intellectual level.
- For reluctant readers or very active children, supply
paper and crayons to keep their hands busy.
Don't
- Don't continue a book once it is obvious it wasn't a
good choice. Briefly explain why the book isn't
appropriate and select something else.
- Don't read above their emotional level. Children can
be very sensitive to content (i.e. loss).
- Don't use reading a book as a threat. (i.e. "if you
don't clean up, then no book!") Relaxed reading is
necessary and shouldn't be dependent on behavior.
- Don't confuse quantity with quality. Ten
enthusiastic, attentive minutes of reading is better
than hours of television.
- Don't have your child choose between TV and reading
because they'll choose TV. (It's like asking them if
they want a donut or vegetables).
*Adapted from: Trelease, Jim (1989). The New Read
Aloud Handbook Penguin Books: New York
Reading
Parent Involvement in Reading:
- Set aside a specific time to read with your
child; make provisions to eliminate distractions.
- Make weekly visits to the local library; allow
your child to choose some of the books.
- Keep a list of all the books your child reads
with you. It will encourage him when he sees the
amount of books read.
Reading Techniques
Paired Reading:
- The child chooses the book. The child should
recognize 75% of the words on each page.
- When the text is difficult, both parent and
child read all the words out loud at the same
time. Adjust your speed with your child's.
- If your child is having difficulty, guide
with your finger, and encourage them to read
every word they know.
When your child makes a mistake, repeat the
word until your child reads it correctly. Do
have the child try to sound out the word. Your
child shouldn't try any word for more than 5
seconds before being helped.
- Arrange a nonverbal signal with your
child that he/she can use to let you know
that he/she wants to read independently
(i.e. pat on the knee).
- Praise your child for their effort!
Alternative Reading:
Take turns reading alternative pages.
This should be done on an independent level.
It gives the child an opportunity to hear
you read with expression.
Basic Steps to
Paired Reading
- Explain to your child that you are
going to do "paired reading". Explain
what that is, if it's your first time
doing paired reading together.
- Have your child select a book. Make
sure it's at an instructional reading
level (no more than five unknown words
per page).
- Arrange a nonverbal signal your
child can use to let you know he/she
wants to read on their own (i.e. a tap
on the knee).
- Begin the book by reading together.
Make sure you follow your child's pace.
Listen for them to begin the word.
- If you child pronounces a word
incorrectly, say the word correctly and
have your child repeat the correct
pronunciation.
- If your child hesitates on a word,
give them 5 seconds, then say the word
correctly. Have them repeat the correct
pronunciation.
- When your child signals you, allow
them to read independently until they
make an oral reading error. If your
child makes an error, refer to the last
2 steps above, then begin reading aloud
together again.
Ask These
Questions:
- If you met a rabbit that could
talk, what would it say?
- What is the funniest thing you
ever saw?
- What do your pencil and paper
talk about at night?
- If you could take a trip to any
country in the world, where would
you want to go? Why would you want
to got there?
- If you had a computer that could
do special programs, what kinds of
programs could it do?
Write an
"All About Me" Story
- Are you a boy or girl?
- What do you look like?
- What color is your hair? and
your eyes?
- How tall are you?
- How are you dressed?
- What is your favorite meal?
- Where do you like to go for
a vacation?
- What is your favorite sport?
- What is your favorite book?
Finish These:
- I love home school
when...
- I was really scared
when...
- I can hardly wait
until...
- I couldn't believe it
when I saw...
- When I heard the loud...
Autobiographies
- "The Life of a
Bicycle"
- "The Journey of a
Pebble"
- "I was a Little
Mouse"
- "The Life of a
Raccoon"
Use These Topic
Sentences
- Rick traded his
toy car for a live
frog and...
- Being twelve
feet tall gives a
person a lot of
problems.
- While we were on
a field trip, my
best friend got
lost.
- If the animals
hadn't all run away,
it never would have
happened.
- After the smoke
cleared, we could
see what really
happened.
- After I opened
the package, I
realized it wasn't
for me.
A Creative Writing
Source:
The following
link is to a
third-party web site
that is neither
hosed nor endorsed
by The School
District of Lee
County.
National Writing
Institute
624 W. University
#248
Denton, TX 76201
http://www.writingstrands.com
Email:
Info@writingstrands.com |
