How to Read With Your Child
How to Read With Your Child
When your child is younger (generally between 5 and 7) and is still developing their reading foundation you will need to be more hands-on with their literary development at home. Having an understanding of the basics of early literacy can be incredibly helpful for parents when reading at home with their child.
Vocabulary
Check out some key early literacy vocabulary below.
Decodable word - A word that sounds like each of its components sounds blended together.
Decoding - translating a written word into a spoken word - often called “sounding out” a word.
High-frequency Words (HFW) - Words are short words like “the,” “you,” and “of” that don’t follow simple phonics rules. Because of this, they are not decodable but are very common in text
Phonics - “Phonics instruction teaches the relationships between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language. To read, children need to understand the alphabetic principle — the idea that letters represent the sounds of spoken language.” (from Reading Rockets)
Modeling - Demonstrating skills or behaviors to your child so they can learn by imitating you.
Pre-reading
When selecting books to read with your child, we recommend that you first scan the
text alone and look for the elements explained below, then pre-read the book together with your child to review words that may be challenging.
Familiarize yourself with character names - is this a name your child will be able to decode (“Deb”) or will struggle to decode (“Catherine”)? If your child will likely not be able to decode it, show them the name and pronounce it before you begin reading so they don’t need to spend their energy trying to decode something that isn’t going to work.
Note high-frequency words (HFW) like “the,” “you,” or “of.” We recommend keeping a note of HFW your child has learned in school on your notes app. Don't worry if your child comes across high-frequency words they have not yet memorized in the text. These words are primarily memorized and are not decodable. When your child meets a non-decodable or unknown HFW while reading, read the word and have them keep going - you’ll be amazed at how quickly they pick it up once they’ve seen it a few times!
Unfamiliar/non-decodable words - similar to character names that will be difficult for your child to decode, you can review these words with your child before reading or jump in to read them as they appear while your child reads the passage.
Pro Tip: To get some extra HFW practice during pre-reading, show your child a page and tell them that the word “would” (or the relevant HFW) is on the page three times. Ask them to find each instance - they can use a pencil to underline the HFWs or just point them out.
Model the skills
While reading with your child, touch and say the sounds in a word. Try making a few mistakes - you can see if they catch them, and it can be a confidence-booster for children to see that they are not the only ones who make mistakes while reading. It can be frustrating to struggle with a skill while you’ve never seen your role models struggle!
Talk about it!
Ask your child reflective questions about what you are reading - not just “What is the character’s name?” but also “How do you think the character felt?” You can also make predictions about the text: “I wonder if the dog is hiding at the playground” ” Share your thoughts about the book with them, as well. Talking about what you’re reading refreshes the brain and builds reading comprehension. It also turns reading into a bonding experience instead of a chore.
Keep it fun!
If every reading session is a battle, you will lose the war! Keep it fun and don’t force your child to continue practicing reading if they are tired or upset. Fun reading experiences are integral to fostering life-long readers. Take a break and come back at another time - the book will still be there!
Overall, reading can be really fun and a great bonding tool between you and your child. Establishing a love for books and discovery at an early age is truly life-changing for students as they embark on their educational journeys. If you would like more practice with early literacy and helping your child develop the skills needed you can always schedule a consultation with us at www.growwithbeck.com. We are currently working on our fall schedule and spots are limited!
