Reading in First Grade

TIPS FOR PARENTS 
HELPING YOUR CHILD READ AT HOME

When helping your child read at home, here are some strategies you can use to aid in decoding unknown words:

1.  “Look at the picture.”  If the word is something that can be seen in the picture, let your child know.

2.  “Look for chunks in the word.”  Can your child see the ot in pot or the at in mat or the ing in standing?

3.  “Get your mouth ready to say the first sound.”  Sometimes focusing on that first sound will help your child to decipher the whole word.

4.  “Does the word look like any other word you know?”  Does cook look like look?  Does rake look like cake?

5.  “Go on and read until the end of the sentence, then go back and try to fill in the word.”  Sometimes reading the other words will give a clue about the unknown word.

6.  If the child says the wrong word while reading, ask questions like:
“Does it make sense?”
“Does it sound right?”
“Does it look right?”


Is this book too easy for my child?

Sometimes parents are concerned that the books and stories coming home are too easy for their child.
Before a book or story comes home with your child to read with you, that book has already been read in class.  Most likely, the story has been read several times.  Your child and I have already worked on the word-decoding, fluency and comprehension.  It is very normal (and a good sign!) for the reading to seem easy.  That’s a sign that your child is aquiring effective reading strategies.

However, just because the book is easy does not mean that your child shouldn’t read it.  Good readers become great by reading.  Practicing a story that is familiar is a good way to build fluency, expression, and comprehension.  Just like playing an instrument, practice is the key!

In addition, please be assured that in our guided reading time and during our independent reading time, students are reading books that are “just right” for them at an instructional level.  It is my goal to challenge your child and meet them where they are in regards to their reading.  Growth over time is my goal regardless of where a child begins their reading journey in first grade.