Reading at Home

Reading aloud with you child at home is one the single most important things you can do to help them learn and develop...not to mention build vocabulary and foster their imagination. Here are some things to help with reading at home:

1. Create a special place for reading- this can be a cozy chair, in bed, or even a place outside
2. Schedule a regular quiet time- as you know, kids strive on routines. Make reading a priority with your daily routines and work in at least 20 minutes. It's important they the hear you read to them (not just them reading to you.) They need to hear how a fluent reader reads.
3. Reread favorite books- "My child only wants to read the same book over and over again AND they're not even reading it...it's memorized! Is this normal?" This is not only completely normal but CRITICAL to your child's reading development.
4. Read longer books- K1 has fallen in love with Junie B. Jones. There are minimal pictures but they don't mind. They are engrossed in her humor and silly sayings. Magic Tree House is another great chapter book to read aloud...
5. Take turns reading- next time you're reading a familiar book take turns "reading" the pages.

Hope this helps and happy READING!

There is no substitute for books in the life of a child. -May Ellen Chase

Tips #1

Oh yes we do!! Last Wednesday at our "No Parent Left Behind" Class, we asked the parents to complete a survey in which we asked "What would you like more information about?" We had an overwhelming number of parents say "more easy tips to do with my child at home." That is music to my ears! So...I'll be using my blog to post some fun, easy and quick things to do with you Kindergartner.

1. The above picture is example #1! Have them use a highlighter to highlight "popcorn" words in newspapers, magazines, flyer's, junk mail, etc.

2. Magnet letters-stick them on the refrigerator and while you're cooking you can give them popcorn words to spell or easy 3 letter words like cat, bat, cup, map, etc.

3. Sorting-have your child help you sort objects, laundry, dishes and be sure you are telling them HOW you are sorting (shape, color, size, length, etc.)

4. Gross motor- watch out for "W" sitting. This is when they are sitting on the floor with their legs to the side (hint-it looks like a "W"). They are sitting this way because they have not developed enough muscle strength in their core to hold themselves up! How to fix it- mermaid sitting (legs to the side), exercise ball activities, or legs straight out in front. Be watching and correcting when they are playing video games, watching TV, etc.

5. Fine motor- when holding a pencil they should be using their thumb and pointer finger to pinch and their middle finger underneath (to stabilize the pencil) or pinching with all 3 of those fingers. I tell my kids "pinch, flip and grip" to find their correct grip. Ways to build fine motor muscles-have them use tweezers, hole punchers and silly putty!

6. Reading (my favorite!)- ENGAGE your child during your reading time together...this is how they are learning to comprehend. Ask them to tell you the characters, setting, or stop at the climax and ask them to guess what is going to happen next in the story and why.

Hope this helps...I'll send more easy things in the next few weeks!