Reading Tip

Beginning readers often face many obstacles as they navigate through the written world.  An example of one such obstacle is encountering an unfamiliar word within a text or storybook.  Unfamiliar words can be intimidating, which is why proper decoding strategies are vital to a student's reading success.  Employment of decoding strategies during reading will not only allow a child's confidence to grow, it will also allow them to become more independent readers.

One decoding strategy is to look at pictures in a story for clues.  When reading with your child, take time to reflect on the pictures.  Ask questions such as, "What do you see?" "How do you think the character feels? What makes you think that?" or "What type of story do you think this is? (A fantasy/ nonfiction, etc.)" and also "How do you think this story will end?/ What will happen next?"

Picture words can also pop up within text.  Take this particular story, for example.  The sentence begins, "Space Pup helps people at night, but when the s__ comes up, he rests all day."   A child may encounter this word and will not be able to read it with immediacy. If you guide them towards the pictures, you may ask, "What do you see?"  A child may say "the sun".  If they don't immediatly give the sun as an example, draw their attention to the larger items on the page.  Do you notice how large the sun is?  I try to tell my students that illustrators often make more important pictures (like the sun, for example) more prominent.  After your child says "the sun", you can guide them back to the word.  Notice how SUN begins with S as does the first letter of this word? 

Another fun idea is to provide finger puppets as tracking devices for your child to use as they read.  I purchased a set from IKEA which my students simply love.  It will also provide you as a parent with valuable clues on how your child is reading.  Do they pause on unfamiliar words and try to decode independently?  Do they spend thoughtful time looking at each word, or are they quick to rush through, missing written text along the way?

I hope the suggestions above will serve as aids when you read with your child!