How To Help Your Intermediate Reader Become A Fluent Reader (grade 1 to 2)

As your child masters the mechanics of reading at school, you can help him grow as a reader at home. Here are 13 things you can do to keep him turning pages:

Let your child pick out books. Don't worry if your child isn't interested in the classics. Indulge his taste for books about planes or trucks — comic books are okay, too. Your responsibility is to instill a love of reading.

Model good behavior. Your child wants to be just like you, so read around him whenever you can. Don't wait until after bedtime to dive into your novel. When you're reading mail, shopping lists, notes, even catalogs, share what you're reading with your child.

Get to know the librarian. Go to the library as often as you can or as often as your child wants to go. Have your child get to know the librarian so she can help pick out interesting books that relate to your child's interests.

Encourage your child to read alone. Not all the time, of course, but developing readers can master some books on their own and need to do so to become fluent readers. Mix it up: Read a few difficult books to your child, and then let your child read an old favorite by himself.

Read aloud with expression. You'll not only make reading more fun but also teach your child about punctuation, sentence structure, and the flow of a story. Get silly. Make animal noises. Be loud and soft and everything in between. Sing part of the book if you're in the mood. Ask your child to do the same when reading books to you.

Set aside quiet time for reading. Thirty minutes of quiet time for reading before or after dinner, for example, reinforces the idea that reading is part of the daily routine. Have everyone in the family participate; this is an activity for all ages. If possible, after reading time discuss everyone's books for a few minutes.

Write notes to your child. You'll teach your child to appreciate reading and writing as a form of communication with a note as simple as "I love you." Put a note in a school lunch, for example. Use words your child has seen or words you've read in favorite books.

Introduce chapter books. Developing readers are ready for longer books that feature multiple characters and events. Have your child read a chapter or part of a chapter each night. Recapping previous chapters will train him to recall past events.

Talk about a book as you read it. Help build comprehension skills by asking questions beforehand: "What do you think this book is about?" Discuss the title, the cover, and the author. As you read the book, stop once in a while to talk about the story. "What do you think will happen next?" "Do you like the character?" "What do you think he should do?" When the book is over, ask your child what he liked or didn't like about it.

Read everywhere you go. Your child is probably beyond reading simple stop signs, but there are plenty of other things to read from a car window. Ask your child to try to read street signs, movie posters, billboards — they're all fair game.

Keep the flow going. Don't labor over mistakes and difficult words. "Let it go," says reading specialist and first-grade teacher Cindy Pfost. "Don't correct every mistake. If they say, 'The bear went to his house' and the page says, 'The bear went to his home,' that's okay. They're getting the meaning, and that's what's important."

Lighten up. Don't make reading an assignment or require an hour of read-aloud time a night. "Reading time should last as long as the child is interested," Pfost says. "Don't overdo it."

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How To Help Your Beginning Reader Learn To Read (k to 1)

Beginning readers need more than a few phonics lessons to learn to read. In addition to reading aloud every day and surrounding your child with books, here are 13 things you can do to help your beginning reader master the basics:

Read poetry and word pattern books. The same books you read to your preschooler are good choices now. Books with repetition, rhymes, and patterns such as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss are always hits, as are books that repeat the same words and that stress word similarities with rhymes and patterns such as Bill Martin Jr.'s and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Get to know the librarian. Go to the library as often as you can or as often as your child wants to go. Encourage your child to get to know the librarian so she can help pick out interesting books or books that relate to your child's interests.

Talk about pictures. New readers use pictures as clues to help understand a story. Ask your child questions about the pictures and how they relate to the words on each page.

Model good behavior. Your child wants to be just like you, so read around him whenever you can. Don't wait until after bedtime to dive into your novel. When you're reading mail, shopping lists, notes, or catalogs, share what you're reading with your child.

Let your child pick out books. Don't worry if your child isn't interested in the classics now. The goal is to make reading fun and to get your child turning the pages — reading a comic book or a book about Barbie is okay.

Read aloud with expression. You'll not only make reading more fun but also teach your child about punctuation, sentence structure, and the flow of a story. Pick out fun books such as Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and just get silly. Make animal noises. Toot and make chug-chug sounds when you read The Little Engine That Could. Be loud and soft and everything in between. Sing part of the book if you're in the mood. Ask your child to do the same when reading books back to you.

Point to the words as you read aloud. New readers are learning the very basics: that print runs left to right, that words represent our spoken language. Emphasize all of these ideas by following the words you read with your finger.

Find books that relate to your child's interests. Show your child that reading can provide information about anything: dinosaurs, cars, fairy godmothers, movie stars and rock stars, magic tricks, etc. Help your child find exciting books. If the book seems too difficult, read it to your child.

Write simple notes to your child. Your note can have just three words: "I love you" or "Have fun today." Use words your child has seen or words you've read in favorite books.

Talk about a book as you read it. Help build comprehension skills by asking questions beforehand: "What do you think this book is about?" Discuss the title, the cover, and the author. As you read the book, stop once in a while to talk about the story. "What do you think will happen next?" "Do you like the character?" "What do you think he should do?" When the book is over, recap the story and ask your child about it.

Read everywhere you go. You'll show your child that reading is an important part of everyday life. When you see a stop sign or other familiar sign, read it out loud: "S, T, O, P. That says stop!" Read store signs, menus, and street signs. Encouraging your child to "read" familiar signs will reinforce your child's sense of mastering reading.

Lighten up. Don't make reading an assignment or require an hour of practice every night. Be aware of your child's attention span, and make sure your child is engaged in the books you're reading.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How To Tell When Your Beginning Reader Needs Extra Help (k to 1)

Children learn to read at vastly different rates. Some will be able to read independently in kindergarten; others need a full year or more of instruction to build vocabulary and phonetic skills. The best way to tell if your child has a problem is to observe your child reading, keeping in mind that your beginning reader won't be able to read through books smoothly or be able to sound out every word. Your child may need extra help if she:

• Shows no interest in books. "A lack of interest could be avoidance," says Susan Glazer, director of the Graduate Program in Reading Language Arts at Rider University.

• Becomes moody and frustrated while reading.

• Doesn't grasp the basic structure of a book (cover and back) and left-to-right movement of text.

• Can't finish basic word patterns (what's next in the series big, little, big, little...).

If your child seems to have trouble learning to read, don't blame yourself or your child. Your child's struggle could be rooted vision or hearing problems, a teacher's teaching approach, or reading material that's too advanced for his age. "I never say the child fails," Glazer says. "What I say is that the book has failed the child. Maybe the reading series is wrong for the child."

Here are six steps you can take to identify and correct the problem:

Watch and listen to your child read. Note problem areas: Is he having trouble recognizing familiar words? Does he frequently mispronounce the same word over and over again? Does he spend a lot of time guessing? Try not to correct him, you goal is to observe.

Talk to your child without sounding too worried or frustrated. You don't want to scare your child away from books. Ask your child about school. Does the teacher move too quickly during class? Are the books too difficult? Try to get information without comparing your child to other kids in class. Don't say, "Does everyone else read faster than you?" Instead ask, "Does the teacher separate the class into reading groups?"

Arrange to speak to your child's teacher or to a reading specialist. Prepare questions before you go, and share whatever problems you've observed at home. Something you think is a problem might be a typical difficulty for a beginning reader. Ask the teacher about the school's reading curriculum and any reading assessments that have been given to your child. The teacher will be able to tell you your child's reading level, discuss any problem areas indicated by those tests, and offer help.

With the teacher, try to identify the source of the problem. Consider the obvious first: Have you checked your child's eyesight and hearing? Vision problems could mean your child has difficulty reading the board during vocabulary and reading exercises or has trouble deciphering letters on a page. Hearing problems can seriously affect a child's ability to read, because many new words are introduced orally during the first few years of school.

As you work on the reading problem, praise your child's progress. Many children are nervous about reading and keeping up with their classmates, so try to help your child feel as if she's mastering reading. If you're out shopping and you see a sign your child knows such as McDonald's or Toys R Us, ask your child, "Can you read that sign?" Write down your child's name or the names of everyone in the family, and ask your child to read them. "Let them see themselves as readers," says reading specialist and first-grade teacher Cindy Pfost. Find a copy of the book When Will I Read? by Miriam Cohen; it reassures children who are having trouble.

Don't discuss your child's reading problem with other adults and friends in front of your child. It's best to keep the problem between yourself, your spouse, and the teacher or reading specialist.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How To Choose The Best Books For Your Beginning Reader (k to 1)

Children's sections in libraries and bookstores can be overwhelming, especially when your child is just beginning to read. How do you decide which books are best for your new reader? Here are six suggestions from reading experts, teachers, and experienced parents:

Find rhyming and word pattern books. Beginning readers will enjoy the same books you've been reading to them for the past five years: books with short, rhyming sentences and predictable structure with word patterns that are easy to memorize, such as "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish." Some suggestions: nursery rhymes, counting books, alphabet books, and poetry books. Books by authors such as Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, and the poet Shel Silverstein are good choices.

Look for winners. Ask your librarian for a list of annual Caldecott and Newbery award winners. Caldecott awards are issued for illustrated picture books, Newbery for writing.

Share your childhood favorites. Winnie-the-Pooh, Make Way for Ducklings, and Go, Dog, Go!: Yes, they're still around! Browse through the library or bookstore and look for the books you loved when you were starting to read. Find out if your parents still have your first books packed away. The classics never go out of style.

Pick books with vibrant illustrations. Early readers need pictures that match the text and help tell the story. Look for books that include pictures directly related to the words — for example, a picture of a yellow sun on a page that says, "yellow sun."

Find books that match your child's interests. Don't worry too much about the level of difficulty or whether they qualify as classics. If your child loves spaceships, buy spaceship books. If your child loves Arthur or the animated character of the week, buy the book. The idea is to develop a love of reading, not a love of reading a certain kind of book. Take your child along with you to the library or bookstore and don't restrict your child to one age group or subject. With reading, anything (within reason!) goes.

Ask the school for a reading list. Most school districts approve a list of books for early elementary classrooms. You might also be able to meet with a reading specialist at the school to discuss which books your child would enjoy.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

Fun Activities For Beginning Readers (K to 1)

The secret to helping your child learn to read is showing him that reading can provide endless hours of fun. Here are some great activity ideas for your beginning reader.

Because children learn in different ways, we've arranged these activities by learning style. But any child can benefit from the suggestions in all three categories.

For physical learners
Get a library card in your child's name Go the library together and visit the checkout counter to apply for a library card. If he knows how to spell his own name, ask him to tell you while you write it down on the application. When you get the card, make a copy of it and laminate it so your child has a card of his own to carry around; if your library system uses plastic cards with bar codes, get your child his own card as they are easily replaced.

Play dress-up and act out a book Dressing up like the characters in your child's favorite book can really bring reading to life. You can invite some of your child's friends over and make it a playdate.

Make an alphabet poster Ask your child to draw each letter on some poster board, then go through magazines and catalogs and cut out pictures of things that begin with each letter and glue them on the board. This is a great hands-on way to learn the alphabet.

Make finger puppets to go with a story Cut the fingers off some old gloves and then use fabric markers to draw the characters on together. You can also roll felt or paper for the body and then glue eyes, noses, smiles, and hair on them. If your art skills could use some work, make color copies from a favorite book, then cut out the characters' faces and glue them onto the glove fingers or rolled paper or felt. Once you make the puppets, you and your child can use them to help tell a story.

Write a letter to your child's favorite author To help your child get started, ask him a few questions. What do you like about this author's book? How do you feel when you read these stories? Who is your favorite character? Then have your child put the letter in an envelope, seal it, and add a stamp. You can send it to the author care of the publisher. Check the title page of the book to find out who that is.

Make a dictionary As your child comes across words he doesn't know, write them in a blank book or notebook along with the meaning. This is a great way to help build vocabulary.

Give out book dollars If you don't want to use real money, you can draw your own. Dole out the cash for chores or other good deeds at home. When your child earns ten or 15, take a trip to the bookstore and let him spend the money.

Go to a book signing party Popular children's authors often make appearances at bookstores. Check local papers and bulletin boards at bookstores to find out who's coming next.

Build a reading fort In your child's bedroom, lean together some broom or mop sticks and drape blankets over them to create a tent. Invite your child to grab a book and a flashlight and climb in for story time in the dark (you can join in to help him read the stories if he wants). In the summertime you can do this in the yard.

Serve a meal from a book Use food coloring to make green eggs and ham, try to recreate parts of the Grinch's Christmas feast, or make your own batch of porridge for the Three Little Bears. You can even get a basket and fill it with goodies for Little Red Riding Hood to take to Grandmother's house.

Have a reading picnic Take your favorite food and your favorite books to the park. You'll reinforce the idea that reading can be fun anywhere.

Throw a book-related party Read over your child's favorite book and think about what elements would work at a party. Can you decorate his room in a jungle theme to resemble Where the Wild Things Are? Can you collect hats and host a Cat-in-the-Hat party (Dr. Seuss's birthday is March 2. Why not celebrate?)? You'll get your child and his friends talking about books.

For auditory learners
Go to story time at the library or a bookstore Nothing beats listening to a trained storyteller. Going to the library or a bookstore to listen to a tall tale is not only a fun outing, but your child will also learn about new books and meet other children. As a bonus, you may pick up a few tips to jazz up your own read-aloud sessions.

Listen to books on tape You can check out tapes from the library for free or buy them at a bookstore (to save money, stop by your local used bookstore). Kids love listening to someone else tell them a story, and they can follow along in their own books.

Read a recipe and cook the dish together Start with an illustrated children's cookbook so your child can see how the dish might turn out. Read the recipe to your child while she follows along. Making the food will teach your child that books provide useful information.

Join a summer book club at the library Most libraries arrange summer programs with lists of books for each age group and awards for completing the books. To get credit for each book your child may need to retell the story to a librarian or volunteer. Your child will share the joy of books with others — and may even win some prizes.

For visual learners
Read a story that's out as a movie Then go see the movie. Your child will love seeing characters he already knows from a book up on the big screen. You can rent videos too. For a fun twist, make it a sleepover party and invite other kids to read and watch the video.

Turn a book into art Make a color copy of your child's favorite picture in a book and frame it for her bedroom, or have it put on a shirt at a T-shirt shop.

Write captions to favorite pictures Get out some photos or a photo album and go through each picture one by one asking your child to describe what's going on, or if he's in them how he felt or what he was doing. Then write the story on sticky notes that you place on the pictures.

Subscribe to a kids' magazine Your child will love getting his own magazines in the mail. Great ones to try at this age are Highlights for Children or Sports Illustrated for Kids.

Imagine what happens next With your child, make up and write down a sequel to a favorite book.

Copy your child's favorite book into a blank journal Then let your child draw a new picture for each page of the story.

Visit your child's favorite author's Web site Some great ones to try: the home page of Jan Brett, illustrator of Hedgie's Surprise and other stories, the site for Eric Carle, best known as the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Suessville, a great destination for Dr. Seuss lovers.

Leave notes for your child Put them in her lunchbox or book bag every day, even if it's just a few simple words such as "I love you." You can also leave them around her room or next to her toothbrush.

Buy a big book Teaching supply stores sell giant books for teachers to use in the classroom. They're great for group reads because all the kids can see the pictures, but your child will also love the huge oversized pictures in your one-on-one story time.

Illustrate a song Write down the words to your child's favorite song and, with your child, draw pictures to go with each stanza. Then read the song together.

Set a family reading time For 15 or 20 minutes a night, everyone in the house reads a story together. If friends or neighbors are visiting, ask them to participate. Follow the reading time with a few minutes of discussion about the book to encourage comprehension.

Write a book of "my favorite things" Staple together ten blank pages and ask your child to think of that many favorite things. Help with ideas. Ask him questions such as, What's your favorite food? Who is your best friend? What is your favorite book? Write one thing on each page and have your child draw a picture to go with it.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

Fun Activities For Advanced Readers (grades 2 to 3)

As your child becomes a fluent reader, you can continue to encourage a love of reading. Make sure reading stays fun with these great activity ideas.

Because children learn in different ways, we've arranged these activities by learning style. If you're not sure what your child's learning style is. But any child can benefit from the suggestions in all three categories.

For physical learners
Make a family newspaper Have your child write stories about what's happening in the family. Need some ideas? Recent birthdays, outings, and events at school all make good subjects for "articles." Then encourage her to read the paper to others.

Discover words to grow on Go to the library and check out a gardening book or buy one at the bookstore. Read through it to find plants, flowers, or vegetables that look interesting and then buy some seeds or plants from a local nursery and watch them grow.

Make your own bookmarks Cut a long rectangular strip out of white cardboard, punch a hole in the top, and let your child decorate each side with markers, stickers, sparkles, anything she wants. Then choose a ribbon and tie it through the hole as tassel.

Write a letter to a favorite author To help your child get started, ask her a few questions. What do you like about this author's book? How do you feel when you read these stories? Who is your favorite character? When it's ready, you can send the letter to the author care of the publisher. Check the title page of the book to find out who that is.

Make a dictionary As your child comes across words she doesn't know, have her write them in a blank book or notebook along with the meaning. This is a great way to help build vocabulary.

Give out book dollars If you don't want to use real money, you can draw your own. Dole out the cash for chores or other good deeds at home. When your child earns ten or 15, take a trip to the bookstore and let her spend the money.

Go to a book signing party Popular children's authors often make appearances at bookstores. Check local papers and bulletin boards at bookstores to find how who's coming next.

Build a reading fort In your child's bedroom, lean together some broom or mop sticks and drape blankets over them to create a tent. Invite your child to grab a book and a flashlight and climb in for story time in the dark. In the summertime you can do this in the yard.

Serve a meal from a book Use food coloring to make green eggs and ham, try to recreate parts of the Grinch's Christmas feast, or make your own batch of freckle juice from Judy Blume's book.

Throw a book-related party Read over your child's favorite book and think about what elements would work at a party. Can you decorate her room like the Hogwarts Academy in Harry Potter? You'll get your child and her friends talking about books.

For auditory learners
Go to story time at the library or a bookstore Nothing beats listening to a trained storyteller. Going to the library or a bookstore to listen to a tall tale is not only a fun outing, but your child will also learn about new books and meet other children. As a bonus, you may pick up a few tips to jazz up your own read-aloud sessions.

Write a menu for a weekend dinner Decide what you'd like to serve and then ask your child to write the dishes down with descriptions. Tell your child to use describing words (also known as adjectives) such as "green, fresh" salad, "hot" chicken, and "cold, sweet" ice cream. The next night, scramble the adjectives as a joke on the rest of the family!

Find a reading phone pal Teach your child to share the joy of reading. Call a friend or relative in another city and arrange a one-on-one book club. Have the children read the same books and talk about them each week.

Listen to books on tape You can check out tapes from the library for free or buy them at a bookstore (to save money, stop by your local used bookstore). Kids love listening to someone else tell them a story, and they can follow along in their own books.

Read a recipe and cook the dish together Start with an illustrated children's cookbook so your child can see how the dish might turn out. Read the recipe to your child while she follows along. Making the food will teach your child that books provide useful information.

Join a summer book club at the library Most libraries arrange summer programs with lists of books for each age group and awards for completing the books. To get credit for each book your child may need to retell the story to a librarian or volunteer. Your child will share the joy of books with others — and may even win some prizes.

For visual learners
Read a story that's out as a movie Then go see the movie. Your child will love seeing characters she already knows from a book up on the big screen. You can rent videos too. For a fun twist, make it a sleepover party and invite other kids to read and watch the video. Then have them talk about it to build reading comprehension. Some ideas: Charlotte's Web, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Make a photo scrapbook Have your child glue some favorite photos in an album (or on colored paper that you'll later punch holes in and tie together) and then write captions next to each one describing what's going on in the picture.

Subscribe to magazines Let your child browse the racks at the store. Aside from the obvious brown-bag restrictions, let her choose whatever she wants. Kids like to read teen magazines long before they're teens. Buy a couple of different magazines from a newsstand or bookstore, then ask your child to pick out a favorite for a subscription.

Imagine what happens next Have your child make up and write down a sequel to a favorite book.

Visit your child's favorite author's Web site Some great ones to try: the site for Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet and other popular books, the site for the Goosebumps series, and the site for J.K. Rowling, of Harry Potter fame.

Leave notes for your child Put them in her lunchbox or book bag every day. Even if it's just a few simple words such as "I love you." You can also leave them around her room or next to her toothbrush.

Let her read comic books Everyone knows they aren't fine literature, but there's no denying that kids love them! Some great ones to try: Garfield, Archie, The Far Side, Calvin and Hobbes.

Illustrate a song Write down the words to your child's favorite song and have your child draw pictures to go with each stanza. Then read the song.

Set a family reading time For 15 or 20 minutes a night, everyone in the house reads a story together. If friends or neighbors are visiting, ask them to participate. Follow the reading time with a few minutes of discussion about the book to encourage comprehension.

Keep a diary Let your child pick out a diary with a lock and key and encourage her to write in it every day, even if only for a few minutes.

Follow along with a book project Find an instruction or how-to book based on your child's interests: How to draw cars, how to make perfume, how to construct a model, etc. Show your child how to read for information and then put that information to use.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How To Choose The Best Books For Your Advanced Reader (grades 2 to 3)

As your child becomes a fluent reader, he'll discover an entirely new — and often overwhelming — world of books. How do you choose the right ones? Here are five suggestions from reading specialists, teachers, and experienced parents:

Explore different subjects. Your advanced reader is ready to move on from simple storybooks. Go to the library and bookstores and browse by subject area. This is a great time for your child to use books for learning about special interests: horses, outer space, ice skating, dinosaurs — whatever appeals. Don't worry if they're not classics; the idea is to develop a love of reading, not a love of reading a certain kind of book.

Look for winners. Ask your librarian for a list of annual Newberry Medal, National Book Award, and other award winners. Browse best-seller lists for popular books and authors, and ask for recommendations from teachers and other parents.

Share your childhood favorites. Ramona Quimby, Eloise, Just So Stories: Yes, they're still around! Browse through the library or bookstore and look for the books you loved when you were starting to read. Find out if your parents still have your first books packed away. The classics never go out of style.

Ask the school for a reading list. Many school districts approve a list of books for elementary classrooms. You might also be able to meet with a reading specialist at the school to discuss which books your child would enjoy.

Look for books that provide information. Your child will enjoy reading instructions for a craft project, details about how machines work, or facts about a city before you take a trip there.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How To Tell When Your Advanced Reader Needs Extra Help (age 2 to 3)

Children learn to read at vastly different rates. Some will be reading independently and smoothly by early 2nd grade, others will be well into 3rd grade before they can read chapter books on their own and enjoy longer books with fewer pictures. The best way to find out whether your child has a problem that needs attention is to spend time watching her read.

She may need extra help if she:

• Shows no interest in books. "A lack of interest could be avoidance," says Susan Glazer, director of the graduate program in reading language arts at Rider University.

• Becomes moody and frustrated while reading

• Has difficulty keeping up with school assignments

• Regularly misunderstands basic words and / or sentence meanings in assigned reading

• Refuses to read in front of you or with you

• Shows interest only in simple books and still relies heavily on pictures to help tell the story

• Dreads book reports and assignments that require reading

If your child seems to be far behind other kids in 2nd and 3rd grade, don't blame yourself or your child. Her struggle could be rooted in anything from vision or hearing problems to a teacher's teaching approach to inappropriate reading material. "I never say the child fails," Glazer says. "What I say is that the book has failed the child. Maybe the reading series is wrong for the child."

Here are six steps you can take to identify and correct the problem:

Watch and listen to your child read. Note problem areas: Does she mispronounce the same words over and over? Does she spend a lot of time struggling to sound something out? Try not to interfere. Simply observe.

Talk to your child without sounding too worried or frustrated. You don't want to scare your child away from books. To start the conversation, ask your child about school. Does the teacher move too quickly during class? Are the books boring or too difficult? Try to get information without comparing your child to other kids in class. Don't say, "Does everyone else read faster than you?" Instead ask, "Does the teacher separate the class into reading groups?"

Arrange to speak to your child's teacher or a reading specialist. Prepare questions before you go, and share whatever problems you've observed at home. Something you think is a problem may not be. Ask the teacher about the school's reading curriculum and any reading assessments that have been given to your child. Most teachers will be able to tell you your child's reading level, discuss any problem areas indicated by those assessments, and offer help.

With the teacher, try to identify the source of the problem. Consider the obvious first: Have you checked your child's eyesight and hearing? Vision problems could mean your child has difficulty seeing the board during vocabulary and reading exercises or has trouble deciphering letters on a page. Hearing difficulties can seriously affect a child's ability to read, because many new words are introduced orally during the first few years of school.

As you work on the reading problem, praise your child's progress. Many children are nervous about reading and keeping up with their classmates, so try to help your child feel as if he's mastering reading. If you're out shopping and you see a sign your child knows, such as McDonald's or KMart, ask your child, "Can you read that sign?" Write down your child's name or the names of everyone in the family and ask your child to read them. "Let him see himself as a reader," says reading specialist and 1st grade teacher Cindy Pfost. Find a copy of the book When Will I Read? by Miriam Cohen, and let your child read it. It reassures children who are having trouble.

Don't discuss your child's reading problem with other adults and friends in front of your child. It's best to keep the problem between yourself, your spouse, and the teacher or reading specialist.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

Parents Center: How You Can Help An Adnanced Reader

If your child is reading independently and fluently, you should continue to encourage reading for fun and for information. Here are ten ways to help your child continue to grow as a reader:

Model good behavior. Your child wants to be just like you, so read around her whenever you can. Don't wait until after bedtime to dive into your novel. When you're reading mail, shopping lists, notes, or catalogs, share what you're reading with your child.

Let your child pick out books. Your job is to make reading fun and to instill a love of the written word in your child. Don't worry too much if your child isn't interested in Madeline L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time or other classics yet. If your child wants to read comic books, that's okay.

Get to know the librarian. Go to the library as often as you can or as often as your child wants to go. Encourage your child to get to know the librarian so she can help pick out interesting books or books that relate to your child's interests.

Read to your child. We're never too old to be read to. Read an interesting magazine article to your child. Go to a poetry or book reading at a bookstore or library. Let her pick out an advanced "chapter book" that will take a while to complete, and read a piece of the book every night. Elaine McEwan, reading specialist and author of How to Raise a Reader, recommends the following books for advanced readers: Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg, and Old Yeller by Fred Gipson.

Select books that convey information. Introduce your child to nonfiction and instructional books. Read about a city before you visit, learn how machines work, or ask her to read about a holiday tradition and share that information with the family over holiday dinner.

Set aside quiet time for reading. Thirty minutes of quiet time for reading before or after dinner, for example, reinforces the idea that reading is part of the daily routine. Have everyone in the family participate; this is an activity for all ages. If possible, after reading time discuss everyone's books for a few minutes.

Find longer chapter books. Advanced readers can handle a thicker book and grasp intricate story lines. If necessary, review earlier parts of the book each night with your child. You might even want to read the same book yourself to keep up with the story. Introduce your child to books you loved when you started to master reading: Charlotte's Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Secret Garden, and Island of the Blue Dolphins are favorites.

Keep the flow going. When your child is reading aloud to you, don't labor over mistakes and difficult words. If your child loves Harry Potter books and the vocabulary seems too difficult, don't stop to look up every unknown word. Let your child enjoy the story. Your child can mark unknown words and later look up definitions and write them in a homemade dictionary.

Lighten up. Don't make reading an assignment or require a certain amount every night. "Reading time should only last as long as the child is interested," says elementary school teacher and reading specialist Cindy Pfost. "Don't overdo it."

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

How Your Child Learns To Read

Learning to read is a process, one that requires mastering three basic skills. These skills are syntax, semantics, and phonics. Syntax (grammar and punctuation) is the way words, phrases, and clauses go together to create sentences and paragraphs. Semantics is the way words and sentences in a group relate to one another. Phonics refers to the sounds letters make and the relationship between written and spoken words, or comprehension.

As your child learns to read, he will develop these cue areas as a group, not one at a time. Most children, however, start understanding syntax and semantics before phonics; that is, your preschooler will learn that sentences in a book run from left to right before he understands what the letter combination sh sounds like. The best thing you can do to help your child grow in all three areas is to expose him to books and reading every day, whether by reading aloud at bedtime, going to story time at your local library, or simply reading a recipe for making cookies.

About syntax
A child who grasps syntax has an awareness of written language; that is, he understands the grammatical structure and the relationship of words to each other. Syntax skills begin with an understanding of the structure of a book and the words and sentences within it. For example, when your child was a baby, he held books upside down, gnawed on them, or used them as a mat to sit on. As a toddler, he started to understand that a book has a cover and a back, that words are read from left to right, and that the book progresses page by page. Once your child grasps the structure of a book, he'll begin to understand what's inside: words, sentences, paragraphs, and, eventually, chapters. As your child tackles new books, he'll begin to understand the stops and starts and pauses in a sentence and the purpose of punctuation.

Here are some ways to develop syntax skills with early readers:

• Read rhyming and word pattern books aloud. Authors such as Dr. Seuss are great for beginning readers. Books with repetitive word patterns such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss are good choices.

• As you read a book with your child, follow the words with your finger. This will show your child how a sentence progresses, that a period represents a stop in the flow of the story, and other relationships between written and spoken language.

• Write a letter with your child. Emphasize the parts of the letter: introduction, sentences, paragraphs, closing.

Here are some ways to encourage and develop syntax skills with intermediate and advanced readers:

• Continue to work on syntax skills with poetry. Try reading aloud books by poet Shel Silverstein.

• Read aloud with expression. Stop at all the stops, emphasize exclamation and question marks, pause at commas. Exaggerating these cues will help your child develop an appreciation for syntax.

• Practice sentence tenses. Take a favorite book and try to change the tense of the sentences. For example, change the text from "Today we're going to the park," to "Yesterday we went to the park." This technique will highlight grammatical structure.

About semantics
Semantic skills include an ability to recognize and define words, to predict the plot of a story, understand the characters, and talk about the meaning of a whole paragraph or section of a book, and to discuss a book after reading it. Once your child masters semantics, he will grasp the meaning of long blocks of text and understand synonyms and antonyms. He will be able to substitute words ("bucket" for "pail," "cup" for "glass") and differentiate words with similar meanings.

Here are some ways to encourage and develop semantic skills with early readers:

• Read books that tell stories. "I call them paragraph books," says Janet Dynak, reading specialist and dean of the school of education at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. "Look for books with meat to them, books where the narrative is a story." Good choices for early readers include fairy tales, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans, and The Story of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff.

• Talk about the book as you read it. Ask your child to predict the end of the story. Ask, "How do you feel about what's happening? What do you think will happen next?"

• Keep the flow going. If your child is learning to read aloud, don't stop mid-sentence to labor over a difficult word. If your child is stuck, say the word, explain the meaning, and then move on with the sentence. This encourages comprehension of the sentence and the rest of the story. Go back and review the word another time.

Ways to encourage and develop semantic skills with intermediate and advanced readers:

• Again, read books that tell stories. Encourage developing and advanced readers to read longer books, especially ones that must be read over the course of a few days or weeks. Longer books encourage children to remember what was read (characters, events) and to predict what might come next. Less advanced readers might need to review material before they move on to a new chapter.

• Talk about the books as you read them. Even if your child is reading independently, discuss the book before and after story time. Ask your child to predict the end of the story and to explain the theme or moral. Ask, "How do you feel about what's happening?" "What do you think will happen next?" If your child is reading a chapter book gradually, you might want to review the material in each chapter before moving on to the next one.

• Create a personal dictionary. If your child has trouble with vocabulary, write down unknown words in a homemade dictionary as your child reads a book. Look up the words together later, write down the definition, and encourage your child to review the unknown words.

• Read to your child. No child is too old for this. Read part of a longer book aloud and with expression. Discuss the story at the end of each chapter, and encourage your child to ask questions about the story as you read, especially if your child doesn't understand a certain word. Or you can take turns reading: you read one page, your child reads the next.

About phonics
Phonics is the mechanical part of the reading process — your child's ability to understand the sounds letters make in relationship to each other. Phonics ability includes being able to sound out words; recognize word families such as ph words, -at words, and th words; differentiate like words such as "big" and "bag"; and distinguish words with different letters but similar sounds such as "four" and "phone." Phonics skills also include an understanding of roots, prefixes, and suffixes (for example, knowing what non- or un- does at the beginning of a word) and differentiating homonyms, for example, "their" and "there" and "way" and "weigh."

Here are some ways to encourage and develop phonics skills with early readers:

• Go through rhyming books, nursery rhymes, chants, and songs with your child. With each rhyme, point out like words and discuss the difference (how is "cat" different from "hat"?).

• Use alphabet books to discuss words that are the same and different in their beginning and end.

• Write down the names of family members and friends, and sound out each name with your child. Group the names, for example, by first letter (Grandma and Grandpa, Mommy and Me, John and James).

Here are some ways to encourage and develop phonics skills with developing and advanced readers:

• Introduce your child to new reading material daily, such as newspapers and magazines. Use phonemic skills to sound out words and semantic skills to figure out meaning based on the context of the sentence or paragraph.

• Have your child read to you. When he comes across new or difficult words, pronounce and define them for him, and then let your child read the sentence. Keep a mental note of any recurring problems.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

Reading To Your Baby

When should I start reading to my baby?
It's never too early. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading aloud daily to your baby starting at 6 months of age — about the time when he'll really begin to enjoy looking at books with you. But Jim Trelease, longtime read-aloud expert and author of the Read Aloud Handbook, says that you can start when your child's a newborn. No matter what your baby's age, of course, reading provides a great opportunity for cuddling and bonding.

Why is reading to my baby good for him?
Reading will help build your child's vocabulary, stimulate his imagination, and improve his communication skills. In fact, the more you speak to your child from the get-go, the better it is for his growth and development. Studies have shown that language skills — and even intelligence — are related to how many words an infant hears each day. In one study, babies whose parents spoke to them a lot (an average of 2,100 words an hour) scored higher on standard tests when they reached age 3 than did children whose parents hadn't been as verbal. A running commentary on the state of the neighborhood during your walk and naming your child's body parts as you bathe him are good ways to chat. Reading is one more fun way to add variety to your verbal interactions.

What should I read to my infant?
For the first few months, your infant will be picking up on the rhythm of language — rather than the content — as he hears you speak. So when it comes to reading materials, anything goes — children's books, a magazine, or even that novel you've been trying to finish.

Your baby may be fascinated by pictures with bright colors and sharp contrast, though, so stock up on board books and picture books, too.

Once he's no longer an infant, what types of books will be best for my baby?
Let your child be the judge. Books with colorful drawings and catchy phrases are sure to please. Since babies love to grab and mouth everything they can reach, board books or those with heavy-duty pages will best survive the wear and tear. Some children prefer books with photographs, while others like books with built-in activities — images hidden under flaps or behind sliding partitions. (Don't choose anything too delicate, though.) Once you've explored a favorite type of book, try another. Your baby's sure to enjoy something completely different every once in a while.

Your baby may also enjoy the singsong rhythm and playful wording of nursery rhymes. They're easy to remember, so you can chant them during daily routines ("Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub").

What about videos and books on tape?
Babies need to feel an emotional connection with the words being spoken or they simply filter out the language, so steer clear of books on tape, as well as radio and television. "As with all activities parents do with kids, it's how attentive parents are to their kids' responses that is so critical," says Betty Hart, professor emeritus of human development at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

As for videos, experts say most are best reserved for children over age 3. "Putting babies in front of a machine is alienating," says Eveline Carsman, editor of Children's Review Newsletter. In her opinion, videos aimed at young babies have no redeeming qualities that compensate for babies being left alone to watch them.

Should I try to teach my baby sounds and letters from the start?
When you read to your young child, focus on the pleasure at hand, not the alphabetical learning experience. An early emphasis on teaching letters, sounds, and syllables can sap the enjoyment of story time. If you read to your child enough, he'll eventually — when he's ready — make the connection between the sounds of words and the letters on the pages. In the meantime, teaching him to enjoy reading is a much more valuable lesson than nailing his phonics at an early age.

source from http://www.babycenter.com