One way to help beginning readers improve is to have them practice reading every day. Beginning on the first day of school, first graders take home books for reading homework. During the school day, they practice reading a book to an adult. Their homework is to read this book to a parent or other homework helper. The reading bag also includes a book for a parent to read aloud to the student. The books are changed daily to provide appropriate reading material for the student and a variety of books for a parent to read aloud. Daily practice will lead to a habit of reading and an improvement in reading skills. The goal is to help the children grow as independent readers and to develop a love for books and reading that can last a lifetime!

How To Help When Your Child Comes To An Unknown Word

Often adults 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 reading continues.

However, our goal is to help children become independent readers. Here are some alternative suggestions for parents or "homework helpers" to use when a child confronts an unknown word:

· Wait 5-10 seconds 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 line or sentence.

· Go back and read 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.

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

· Look how the word begins. Let the sound "pop" right out.

· Help with blending (sounding it out).

· Tell the word and keep on reading.

It is important that children learn to use these strategies independently. When a child "figures out" a word, you might ask how he/she did it. When childrent talk about their reading, it helps to reinforce learning.