Reading Activities:
Reading to Your Child You are the model for your child. Young children need to learn that we read from left to right. It is a good idea to have your children sit in your lap as you read so they can watch you track the words with your finger as you read.
Make the story fun. First of all, read with expression. Follow the cues. If the character is supposed to be shouting, say their words loudly. If the character is sad, read their words with a sad voice. If the character is excited, sound excited.
Children enjoy a story when the reader uses different voices for each character. Don't be shy, try it!
Take time to talk about the story as you read. Ask your child questions to see if they understand the story. Ask who, what, when, where, and especially why questions.
Look at the illustrations with your child.
If your child is beginning to recognize a few words, choose a word that appears often in the story. Show the word to your child. Name the letters in the word. Have your child watch for the word as you read. They can read the word for you when it comes in the story.
When a page or a chapter ends with a little cliffhanger, have your child make a prediction about what will happen next.
As your child becomes a reader, take turns reading. Pick pages for your child that you think they will be successful reading.
First grade worksheets: When your first grader comes home with reading worksheets, find things on the worksheets for them to read to you.
Here's how to decide if a chapter book is too hard for your child. Have them read one page. Hold up 5 fingers. Each time they don't know a word, put down 1 finger. If you put all 5 fingers down before they reach the end of the page, the book is too hard.
Make the story fun. First of all, read with expression. Follow the cues. If the character is supposed to be shouting, say their words loudly. If the character is sad, read their words with a sad voice. If the character is excited, sound excited.
Children enjoy a story when the reader uses different voices for each character. Don't be shy, try it!
Take time to talk about the story as you read. Ask your child questions to see if they understand the story. Ask who, what, when, where, and especially why questions.
Look at the illustrations with your child.
If your child is beginning to recognize a few words, choose a word that appears often in the story. Show the word to your child. Name the letters in the word. Have your child watch for the word as you read. They can read the word for you when it comes in the story.
When a page or a chapter ends with a little cliffhanger, have your child make a prediction about what will happen next.
As your child becomes a reader, take turns reading. Pick pages for your child that you think they will be successful reading.
First grade worksheets: When your first grader comes home with reading worksheets, find things on the worksheets for them to read to you.
Here's how to decide if a chapter book is too hard for your child. Have them read one page. Hold up 5 fingers. Each time they don't know a word, put down 1 finger. If you put all 5 fingers down before they reach the end of the page, the book is too hard.