Family & Adult Reading Tips

You are your child's first teacher. The most important thing you can do to help your child succeed in school is to read aloud to him or her. Reading to your child makes him or her feel respected and part of your world. It builds self-esteem.
Reading aloud to your child will help him or her to understand words, master language, and enable him or her to come to school feeling confident.

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD READ?

Make reading time special. Turn off the TV. Read before bedtime.
Have your child choose the book you will be reading together. Sit close together. Hold the book so your child can see it and turn the pages.
Patience. Reading to children takes time. Often children will read favorite books over and over again. This builds confidence.
Take time to look at the pictures and discuss the story. Discuss the characters and setting.
Add expression to the text. Change your voice to become different characters.
Have fun with books and language.
Visit the library. Encourage your child to bring home their library books each week. Obtain a library card in your child's name.
Help your child with reading homework. Let them know that reading is the key to learning.
Phonics vs. Sight Vocabulary-both are very important and successful. A combination of teaching both strategies will help your child.
Ask your teacher where to get reading materials or any questions to enhance your child's reading.

Writing Tips
Writing is very important in a child's life. It will be important from preschool to adult life. Writing is

Practical
Job-Related
Social
Creative

How can you help?

Encourage children to draw and make symbols at an early age to communicate.
Make it real. Children also need to do real writing. Writing letters, thank you notes, and/or pen pals are great ways to correspond.
Write together.
Suggest note-taking.
Brainstorming and prewriting are extremely useful. Help them list feelings, thoughts, descriptions, and dialogue in your brainstorming.
Make lists. Letting children make lists will helps them organize their writing.
Be creative and imaginative. Write short stories often to build the foundation of beginning, middle, and ending of stories. Poems are great for the imagination.
Modeling and copying are part of early learning. Let them copy things at home for fun.
Remember to never encourage children to copy anything to turn in for a portfolio. Portfolios are a child's original work.
Overall, if you show a positive and interested attitude toward writing, children will, too.



Home About Us The Literacy Initiative Family & Adult Reading Tips Programs Support Volunteer Tutoring Other Volunteer Opportunities ESLOA Report Form Events Literacy Links Donations & Support Request Book Donations Staff Contact Us	Family & Adult Reading Tips You are your child's first teacher. The most important thing you can do to help your child succeed in school is to read aloud to him or her. Reading to your child makes him or her feel respected and part of your world. It builds self-esteem. Reading aloud to your child will help him or her to understand words, master language, and enable him or her to come to school feeling confident. HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD READ? Make reading time special. Turn off the TV. Read before bedtime. Have your child choose the book you will be reading together. Sit close together. Hold the book so your child can see it and turn the pages. Patience. Reading to children takes time. Often children will read favorite books over and over again. This builds confidence. Take time to look at the pictures and discuss the story. Discuss the characters and setting. Add expression to the text. Change your voice to become different characters. Have fun with books and language. Visit the library. Encourage your child to bring home their library books each week. Obtain a library card in your child's name. Help your child with reading homework. Let them know that reading is the key to learning. Phonics vs. Sight Vocabulary-both are very important and successful. A combination of teaching both strategies will help your child. Ask your teacher where to get reading materials or any questions to enhance your child's reading. Writing Tips Writing is very important in a child's life. It will be important from preschool to adult life. Writing is Practical Job-Related Social Creative How can you help? Encourage children to draw and make symbols at an early age to communicate. Make it real. Children also need to do real writing. Writing letters, thank you notes, and/or pen pals are great ways to correspond. Write together. Suggest note-taking. Brainstorming and prewriting are extremely useful. Help them list feelings, thoughts, descriptions, and dialogue in your brainstorming. Make lists. Letting children make lists will helps them organize their writing. Be creative and imaginative. Write short stories often to build the foundation of beginning, middle, and ending of stories. Poems are great for the imagination. Modeling and copying are part of early learning. Let them copy things at home for fun. Remember to never encourage children to copy anything to turn in for a portfolio. Portfolios are a child's original work. Overall, if you show a positive and interested attitude toward writing, children will, too.


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