1.

Read to your child. Do it every day up through the early teens. Read from a wide variety of materials.

 2.

Encourage writing. Encourage scribbling and pretend writing with young children. Have various writing materials available: paper, pencils, crayons.

3.

Keep reading material in the house. Books, children's
magazines and newspapers can provide both entertainment and information. Make sure some are easy.

 4.

Help your child get a library card from the nearest public library. Exchange books weekly.

 5.

Read to your child. Do it every day up through the early teens. Read from a wide variety of materials.

6.

Encourage conversation. Talk about animals, family problems, the world, everything.  Discuss your child's reading.

7.

Control TV. Establish silent periods devoted just to reading. Watch shows about science and major events(Plant Earth rocks!!)

8.

Model reading. Regularly read books, newspapers, magazines and let your child see you read.

9.

Encourage your child to read aloud. Have him or her read to you and other children. Help with mistakes and adjust reading level if necessary.

10.

Engage your child in informal educational activities. Visit zoos, museums and various interesting places. Encourage him or her to verbalize observations. (See Family Field Trips above.) Provide a lot of craft-type materials. Encourage your child to cook, paint, construct things out of blocks, Legos, clay.

How to Help Your Student When He/She Gets Stuck on a Word

• 

Pause. Count to five slowly while the child tries.

• 

Prompt. Say: "What would make sense?" "Re-read the
sentence and get your mouth ready for the first part." "Look at the picture." "Give it a try."

• 

Praise. Say: "That was a good try!" "That makes sense!" "I like that you noticed the first part!" "I like how you reread that part."

• 

Tell. After two helps say, "Could it be_________?"

• 

Check. Say: "Does it make sense?" "Does it sound right?"
"Does it look right?"