Tips on Helping Your Child Read Independently

*Follow words/letters with finger below print

*Sound out letters out loud.  They need to hear their voice, especially when they are first beginning to read, & you need to know how they are sounding out letters so you can help them if they need correction.

*Some letter sounds can only be said fast (d, t, b, g, p…).  Some letter sounds can be said slow (ssss, aaaa, llll, etc).  Those that can be said slowly should until they begin the next sound in the word.  Saying each sound by itself makes it harder to blend.

         Example:  s…a….t.. versus “Say it slowly”….ssssaaaat   “Say it fast”…. sat

We play this game in class, so if you use these terms that will

help.

*Teach them sight word ‘the’ pronounced like ‘thee’.  Both pronunciations are correct, but ‘thee’ will help with pronouncing other sight words ‘He’, ‘she’, ‘me’, ‘we’, ‘be’.

*Double letters make 1 sound…small…fall…button

*Above all be patient & let them make mistakes without jumping in with the correction immediately.  Ask them if it sounded funny?, or is their another sound that letter makes (as in g & c)?, does that word go with the picture?  The goal is independence and being able to self-correct. 

I hope this helps!  Let me know if you need anything else.

Happy Reading!

   -Mrs. Cram