IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

FAMILY LITERACY PROJECT

Tips For Reading to Your Child

As Barbara Bush wrote recently, "Above all, children love to be read to. It is a special time for them to be close to the grown-ups who care for them, and a wonderful way to feel loved."(Bush, l993)

• Read often to your child and have fun.
• Snuggle when you read.
• Don’t skip your regular reading time.
• Read and reread stories requested by children.
• Make predictions (child tells what he/she thinks will happen next).
• Enjoy the illustrations.
• Talk about the authors and illustrators of the books you read.
• Be patient while your child is reading aloud.
• Listen to books on tape.
• Have your child read into a tape recorder once a month and share the progress with him/her.
• Read aloud together with your child.
• Leave out a word or phrase on each page. (Ex. Little Red Riding Hood said, "Oh, what big sharp ________you have, Grandma!")
• Have your child think of a new ending to the story.
• When reading a non-fiction book, ask your child what they know about the topic and what they want to learn.
• Discuss similarities and differences between stories. (Great with Fairy Tales)
• Alternate reading. You read a page, your child reads a page ,etc.
• From time to time, invite other adults or older children to listen in or join in reading aloud.
• When you read, involve your child by having him/her point out objects in the pictures and follow the words with his/her finger.
• Read poems to/with your child.
• Read children’s magazines.
• Echo Read: Choose something fun to read, such as a poem, song, or joke. You read a sentence with expression and ask your child to repeat the phrase after you.
• Check out the public library.
• Create a special place for your child’s books in your home.
• Keep a few "old favorite" books in the car to enjoy.