Read aloud daily. Your child might be ready for you to read a chapter book
aloud, a chapter or two each night. Children also enjoy picture books, nonfiction,
and joke books.
Begin to read series books. If you read a few, children will often read
the rest of the series on their own.
Read poems, magazines, cartoons, recipes, maps, and nonfiction, as well
as fiction.
Provide time each night for your child to read on his or her own (10–15
minutes).
Help your child find books at the right reading level, since at this stage
children need lots of practice to become fluent readers. Ask your child’s
teacher for suggestions.
Visit bookstores and libraries regularly.
Talk about books you enjoyed when you were little.
Give books as gifts.
Watch television shows together (such as Reading Rainbow) or movies
based on children’s books.
Be supportive as your child reads his or her first I Can Read books.
Help with difficult words so your child can keep the flow of the story.
Ask your child to make predictions as you read a story. ("What do you
think this story will be about?" "What do you think will happen
next?")
Encourage your child to re-read a sentence when it doesn't make sense.
Ask your child to retell a story you have read together.
Point out ways to figure out words in addition to "sounding it out" (such
as looking at the picture, breaking the word into smaller words, reading on,
or thinking what would make sense).
Point out punctuation as you read aloud. ("Oops, an exclamation mark! I'd
better read that a little louder.")
Talk about the strategies you use as a reader when you're looking for a
book, when you come across a word you don't know, or want to learn more about
something.