Mary Walker at J K Hileman Elementary

How to Help Your Child Become a Reader

Read to Your Child
Reading aloud to your child is one of the best ways to help your child learn to love reading. Set aside a special time each day to read together-if only a few minutes each night before bed! While you are reading talk about what the story is about and the meaning of new vocabulary words. Have fun with language in books by talking while driving to the store or during a bath.

Help Your Child Learn the Alphabet Letters
A good place to start is with the letters in your child�s name. Place the magnetic letters on the refrigerator to spell your child�s name. While you are cooking dinner, talk about the differences in letters. For example, some letters have sticks, curves, and tunnels. Flash cards with letters on them can be used to practice letters! Make it fun! Have your child look for letters they know in books or on signs driving down the road!

Help Your Child Learn that Every Letter has its Own Sound
Read alphabet books together and discuss the letter and its sound. Ask your child what sound different words begin with. Sing songs, �

Help Your Child Learn Sight Words
50-75% of all words in books are common words that are repeated. These words are called sight words. Because these words are in every sentence we read, they must be recognized at a glance before your child can read with confidence! The following words will help your child become a reader. Write them on index cards and use them like flash cards. Work on only a few at a time until your child has mastered these and then add a few more. Have your child look for these words in books that you and your child are reading together.

a find
is not
three and
for it
one to
away funny
jump play
two big
go little
red up
blue help
run we
can here
make said
where me
come I
see yellow
down in
my the
you

J K Hileman Elementary
Mary Walker