Reading Strategies For the emergent and beginning reader

International School of LuxembourgJanuary 28, 2015

Darann SmithReading Specialist/Learning Support Coordinator

Lower School

Goals

Provide you with strategies so you can support your reader at home.

Components of ReadingPhonemic Awareness

Ability to hear sounds in a word

PhonicsEach letter makes a sound

ComprehensionAbility to understand the text

VocabularyThe words we must know to access the text

FluencyTo read like we speak, automatic

Setting

Let them: Choose the book Choose the place

Book introduction

Ask questions using the cover of the book to guide you.

Do you know what Halloween is? What is the boy wearing? What is on the girls head? Why are they wearing costumes? What is this (point to the Pumpkin). What did they do to makethe face or the letters?

Introduction of the book lets the child know what the book is going to be about. It activates their background knowledge… gets them thinking about what they know about a certain topic.

Gives them some of the vocabulary words.

Reading to your child.

Read at a slower pace and articulate clearly.

Track the words (with your finger) as you read.

Model reading behavior (holding the book, tracking, turning pages etc.)

Point out words that repeat. Talk about vocabulary words. Try to

relate it to something they already know.

Reading to your child cont.

• Making connections will help their comprehension.

• Identify favorite or known words.• Read daily. Establish a routine.• Point out individual letters, ask them for

their sound.• Identify rhyming words, ask them to

come up with some rhyming words on their own.

• Read a variety of books to them, fiction, non fiction, poetry, newspapers, comics etc.

Reading to your child cont.

• Talk about pictures in the book.• Encourage talk when they say “ Oh

this is like…”• Let them see the pictures as you read.• Let them ask questions.• Talk about the pictures they have in

their mind (visualization).• Have them retell the story in their

own words.

Reading to your child (chapter books)

Take more time to read. Review what was read the previous time. Stop at times to clarify, explain, and

predict. Ask open ended questions.. What do you

think about, how did you feel when etc. Show pictures (if any). Talk about what they visualize.

Listening to your child read.

• Let them choose the book. • Let them choose where to read.• Talk about the cover of the book.• Let them give it a go.• Be patient and listen. • Ask if they would like help if they are

struggling.• Use pictures in the book.• Talk about new/unusual vocabulary.

Help them make connections.

Listening to your child read cont.

When they come to a word they do not know have them:• Look at the pictures to get information

that might help them read the word.• Sound out the letters in the word

(c..a..t)• Make sure they repeat the word after

they sound it out or after you tell them.

• Skip the word and continue reading to the end of the sentence. See if they can figure it out.

Listening to your child read cont.

• If you have time have them red the story again, and again. This increases word recognition and fluency.

• Have them retell the story in their own words.

• Ask open ended questions. Why did, How did, what do you think about, why do you think, where, why.

• Don’t push too hard, this should be an enjoyable experience. The less pressure you put on yourself or the child, the more relaxed they are and the easier it could be.

Other things to consider when reading.

• Support phonics – point to specific letters and ask for the sound, if they don’t know the sound, give it to them. Repeat several times.

• Repetition is good – show confidence in reading.

• Encourage tracking when possible.• Point out sight words in the books you

read together. • Encourage them to use pictures to get

information from when reading.

Other things cont.

Memorizing is part of pre-reading, its okay.

Don’t be alarmed if they confuse p,d,b,q. Point out the letter, name it, tell the sound. Repeat often.

If they stop often to chat about the book or something the book reminds them of, let them. They are making connections.

Stop when it becomes frustrating for you or the child.

Goal of reading is not to get to the end of the book as quickly as you can, its to enjoy the journey.

Thank You!