Reading+strategies


 * Reading: Strategies for Parents**

Below are some strategies that can help your readers become proficient and develop strategies other than sounding out or asking for help.

**1. Read to Them** The most important thing you can do for your reader is to read to him or her. Read things that he/she is interested in and things for just pure enjoyment.

**2. Line Marker** Some readers have trouble focusing on lines of the text or get distracted when there are several lines. Have your reader use a word or line marker such as a pencil, index card or their finger to act as a guide to help them stay on track. The marker will help your reader focus on phrases or chunks of language which will help with fluency. It will also help focus on the beginning sound, which will help with word predictions more than middle or end sounds do.

**3. Retelling** After your reader has completed a story or piece of text or are at a "good" stopping point, have him or her retell what has been read. If he or she has problems retelling all of the text, stop along the way and tell about what he/she has read so far. Readers can also make predictions about what will happen next. **The most important aspect of reading is understanding what is read!**

**4. Rereading** There are many things that help your reader develop fluency. Encourage him to reread several pieces of text that he/she feels comfortable with. Each time they reread the piece, the reading will become more comfortable and make your reader more sure of himself.

**5. Reading to Others** Having your reader read to younger children or even to a stuffed animal or friend can help with fluency which is needed to develop good comprehension. This encourages reading "for a purpose," and can help readers understand that they must read so that it can be understood by a listening audience.

**6. Reading is fun** Providing lots of fun poems, rhymes, short jokes, riddles, and predictable books will also help your reader develop fluency and feel good about reading. This will let him or her hear that they can make reading sound like language and that it can be fun and easy.

Excerpt taken from article: Reading: Strategies for Parents by Dr. Barbara H. Bell and Merry Broughton Woodard