Research has shown that children who are consistent in doing their homework are the most successful in reading. Your help and interest in your child’s learning is a very important part of the Primary Reading program.

When your child brings home a book to read, you can help them by using some of the strategies and prompts that we use in class each day.

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5 Things Good Readers Do
When They Come To A “Tricky” Word

1. Think about the story – You want your child to be able to predict what a word might be by thinking how that word would fit into the message the story is telling.
2. Check the picture – This is a very good strategy, if the answer for the word is in the picture.
3. Go back and get their mouth ready – You are asking your child to make the sound of the first letter of the tricky word and then to move on thru the word looking for other sounds he/she knows.
4. Look for chunks – This strategy makes for much faster reading than just sounding out each of the individual sounds. Ex: “in” – pin, “at” - catch
5. Does that make sense? Would we say it that way? – This strategy asks your child to listen to what he/she has just read. Does it sound silly or strange? Ex: “him” for “he”, “went” for “want”

It’s very difficult for a child to know if he or she is right when they read their book by themselves. They don’t always notice when they make mistakes. They need someone to listen to them read and let them know when something isn’t quite right. With the support of you listening at home, your child will have a much better chance of becoming an independent reader.

Quick Tips:

Things to say:

• Think About The Story
• Check The Picture
• Go Back And Get Your Mouth Ready
• Look For Chunks
• Does That Make Sense? Would We Say It That Way?

Things to do:

• Listen to your child read their book.
• Sit next to them when possible so you can provide them help or clues to figure out the "tricky” word.
• Let “them” slide their finger to match the words, don’t do it for them.
• Let “them” find their own mistakes with your help.