Reading with My Kindergartner at Home
Read, Read, and Read Everyday!
Read, Read, and Read Everyday!
You can read anything, a menu, a poster, and, of course, lots of books together! Try to find a few short sessions throughout the day to read together, such as when waiting at the bus stop or at a restaurant, after watching your favorite TV show, or before going to bed. Reading together helps children relax and feel connected to their families.
What’s the Sound?
What’s the Sound?
Make it a goal to ask your child what letter and sound a word starts with (“Apple starts with A which makes the sound /aaa/.”). This only takes a moment, but it’s exactly the practice they need to master all their sounds! Anytime you eat together, ask your child about the sounds of the food names (“What sound does mmmmmilk start with? Milk starts with m which makes the /mmmmm/ sound.” Once they’ve learned the beginning sounds, try the ending sounds (“Milk ends with k which makes the /ck/ sound”).
Practice the Way to Read
Practice the Way to Read
Show your child the title of the book, looking at the cover and some of the pictures to see what the book might be about. Show them how to slide their finger under the words from left to right when you read the words on the page, then sweep down to the next line to continue reading. Start to talk about how punctuation like periods and exclamation points work and the different types of books such as fiction (made up stories) and nonfiction or informational (facts and real events).
Take Turns!
Take Turns!
Children need lots of practice with reading and they need someone to hear them read. Simply telling a child “go read” before they have the ability to read well by themselves does not help build their skills. You listening and taking turns reading with them makes the activity fun and gives them the chance to hear how YOU read. Imagine wanting to learn how to make a pie. Just having the ingredients wouldn’t be enough to know how to bake a great apple pie! You would want someone who’s baked before to watch you roll out the crust and mix your ingredients. You’d want to hear what you’re doing well, and where you made a mistake. Someone who has baked before can also tell you the different types of pies and oven temperatures for the best results. Your beginning reader needs this same guidance, someone who is listening, watching and hearing them practice.
Borrow Books to Practice!
Borrow Books to Practice!
The library will have everything you need to get your child practicing their new reading skills. If your child is a CMS student, they automatically have a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card and can check out up to 99 books at a time! If they do not already have a library card, they can tell the librarian their student ID number to check books out. You can find out your child’s school ID number by looking on their report card or calling the school.
- Find a library location close to you!
- The easiest books for children to read are usually called “Emergent Readers” or have a label such as “My Very First” or “My First Shared Reading”. Ask the librarian to point out the bookshelf for beginning readers!
- Even if you aren’t taking books home, know that simply visiting the library is an excellent practice. Spending a few minutes letting your child find books that interest them and allowing them to read greatly enhances their reading achievement compared to other activities, like video game playing or watching TV.
Can’t make it to the library? Read a book on ANY computer!
Can’t make it to the library? Read a book on ANY computer!
The NC Kids Digital Library, a free resource for library card holders, offers e-books, audiobooks, streaming videos and Read-Alongs. This collection is designed for kids Pre-K through 4th grade.
Libby, by Overdrive (Free app for iPhones and iPads, Google Play, or Windows Mobile) This app can be used on your phone or tablet to access the NC Kids Digital Library for Read Along books for free.
Libby, by Overdrive (Free app for iPhones and iPads, Google Play, or Windows Mobile) This app can be used on your phone or tablet to access the NC Kids Digital Library for Read Along books for free.
Keep Reading Sessions Short in the Beginning….only a few minutes at a time!
Keep Reading Sessions Short in the Beginning….only a few minutes at a time!
Reading requires a lot of hard work from children. They have to figure out letter shapes while remembering the sounds they make, then blend these sounds together. They’ll tire easily, so try to be patient with their attitude about reading. Some days they’ll want to show you everything they can read, and other days they’ll be frustrated with not knowing how to say the words they see. Once they catch on, they’ll be excited to read all the books!
