Keys to Reading Success for Young Readers

• Make reading together enjoyable (a comfortable place away from distractions.
  
• Consider child's interests, past expericnes, and child's reading level (don't count minor errors).
  
• Introduce books in relaxed conversations: picture walks, make predctions.
  
• Encourage reader with specific praise.
  
• Help maintain the meaning of the story.
  .
• Read together on a consistent basis.
  .
• Read your child's favorite book over and over again.
  .
• Discuss new words.
  .
• Read from a variety of children's books, including fairy tales, song books, poems, and informational books.

Tips to Help Parents with Beginning Readers

The greatest benefits of reading are obtained when your child is an active participant, engaging in discussions about stories, talking about the meaning of words, predicting outcomes, and relating the story to matter in his or her own life.

• Always read with expression.
  
• Talk about the book as you read with your child and after you have finished.
  
• Identify the title and author.
  
• If your child comes to a word he or she does not know and asks for help, you can ask these questions: (1) Does the picture give you a clue? (2) What word would make sense? (3) What letter/sound does it begin with?
  
• REMEMBER the focus is always on the meaning of the story. If your child reads something that doesn't make sense, often he or she will self-correct (go back and try again). If this doesn't happen, stop and ask, "Does this make sense?" The important part is to allow children the opportunity to self-correct first.
  
• It is not necessary to correct every mistake. If a child makes a mistake but the story or sentence make sense, let it go. 
• It does not matter if your child memorizes a particular phrase or story. That is an early stage in the process of learning to read.  
  
• Encourage your child to point (or use a reading stick) to the words with his or her finger as he or she reads. This shows him or her that there is a one-to-one correspondence between what words are being said and the individual words on the page.
  
• Some questions are helpful: (1) What happended first, second, last? (2) What do you think will happen next? (3) Why do you think the character did that? (4) What would you have done if you were the character? (5) What was the best thing about the story? The worst?
  
• Make sure children see you as a reader-reading a newspaper, enjoying a novel, etc.
  
• Give books as presents so that they become pleasurable and special.