Continued use of reading strategies supports students as their reading develops.

A Fluent Reader can read with speed and acuracy, understand more complex sentences, self correct when meaning is lost and can read bet ween the lines. An Independent Reader can read fluently and understand & relate to different types of material (both fiction, non-fiction). For every level of development, here are 5 key suggestions to support your child when reading at home: 1. Set aside time each day for reading and discuss what has been read. 2. Choose from a variety of material (i.e. stories, poems, recipes, magazines) including both fiction and non-fiction. 3. Model reading by reading yourself. 4. Make regular visits to the library together and participate in some of the special activities. 5. Show interest in what your child is reading and offer praise and encouragement. Read Aloud to Your Child
Even if your child is an idependent reader, read material just above their reading ability. If your child asks a question, stop and answer it. Share your own thoughts and reflections about what you are reading. Use lots of expression and exaggerate your voice. Use your finger or a marker to follow along. Spend Read along with books on tape.

Avoid Frustration When Figuring Out Words

Try word chunking by looking for smaller words within the word.

Guess the word based on the rest of the sentence. Ask yourself; Does that make sense? What does it mean? Did that sound right?

Make Reading Important

Encourage reading in areas that interest them including their hobbies. Provide a variety of material for both reference and pleasure. Read about places you will visit while planning trips. Ask your librarian for reading suggestions. Order magazine subscriptions as gifts. Enjoy a book yourself while your child is reading. Enroll in bookclubs or summer reading programs. Talk to your child about what they are reading.

Reading to Learn

Use your reading skills to increasing knowledge in a variety of subject areas such as Social Studies and Science.

When encountering unknown or difficult works when studying a subject, simply provide the pronunciation and meaning of the word, then move on. Help you child create charts, graphs and pictures to keep a record of information. Help to pace reading depending on the purpose of the reading. i.e. skimming text to find inportant details for note taking or reading more slowly to remember events. Ask the questions; What is this about? What is the most important idea in this article? page? chapter? Review the material with your child by asking about setting, characters, events, facts and conclusions.

Listen to Your Child Read Aloud

Help your child choose books about things that interest them or familiar subjects. Encourage your child to read with expression. Let them guess at unknown words based on the rest of the sentence. Ask what they think about the story.

the Time

Children and young people read more when they are read to. Stephen Krashen

Light or Heavy?
Light reading can lead to more serivous reading. Allow you child to choose from a wide variety of material including, comic books, magazines, teen romance or anything else that interests them. Read your local newspaper.

The Daily Dozen

As part of the Reading 44 Program, students are learning to read using the following 12 strategies:

Reading Resources
If you would like to have more details about the information presented here, your childs teacher is your best resource. OR Check the following books and web sites for more information to help you assist your child with beginning reading: www.bctf.ca/parents/reading/ tips for how parents can support reading at home www.bced.gov.bc.ca/literacy/resources.htm#parents includes handbooks for parents on literacy and numeracy www.collectionscanada.ca/read-up-on-it/index-e.html lists of Canadian childrens books www.discoveryschool.com www.starfall.com/ many activities for young readers www.scholastic.com/familymatters/read/ information about choosing books

R E A D I N G AT H O M E

1. I think about what I already know. 2. I predict what will happen.

(Use of background knowledge helps with understanding.)

(Predicting creates a connection between the reader and the text so the reader wants to find out more.) (Use different ways to figure out words.)

3. I figure out words I do not know. 4. I think about my reading and I self correct.
(Self-correction shows the child is thinking and progressing.) (Mental images help with understanding.)

5. I make a picture in my head.

6. I connect what I know with what I am reading.

(Connecting to other stories or events, helps with understanding of ideas and words.) (Makes clear the relationship between the ideas and events.)

7. I figure out the important ideas and events. 8. I get the information from words and pictures.
(Using charts, graphs, maps and pictures helps understanding.) (Identifying and talking about the order of events (sequencing) increases understanding.) (Summarizing shows understanding of what has been read.) (The ability to read between the lines and draw conclusions indicates understanding.)

Tips for Parents & Strategies for Success

When reading, each student is unique but follows common patterns of development. The 4 stages of Reading Development are: emergent, developing, fluent and independent. Most intermediate students are at the fluent and independent levels

9. I identify parts of the story. 10. I summarize my reading.

11. I figure out the messages. 12. I reflect and I respond.

(Thinking and talking about what they have read increases the connection with the text.)

This booklet is a cooperative project of the Parent Advisory Council, the School Planning Council and the Educators of Eastview Elementary School in North Vancouver, B.C. 2005