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Reading for Fun

 Reading with your child

 Let it be a positive experience!

 

Ten to fifteen minutes, with no distractions, is usually long enough.

Make reading an enjoyable shared experience. Show an interest in whatever they are reading.

Do tell a child unknown words to maintain the flow rather than trying to build them all up from the sounds of the letters. If there are more than 5  unknown words on a page, the book may be too hard to appreciate the story.

Boost your child's confidence with constant praise for even the smallest achievement.
Giving a child a book that is too difficult can have the opposite effect to the desired progression. Build up his or her confidence with easier books. The  ability to enjoy a story that can be read easily will encourage a child to want to read more, and ever more challenging, books.

Reading aloud is a great tool for perfecting understanding, improving vocal expression, appreciating punctuation and gaining confidence.

Try to read with your child on most school days. 'Little and often' is best. Whilst reading is part of every school day, teachers have limited time to hear individuals read.

Your child has a school reading/homework diary. A positive comment or any concerns expressed will let your child  know that you are interested in their progress and that you value reading. It is also a useful home/school communication tool.

Talk to your child about their book; about the    pictures, the characters, how they think the story will end, their favourite part. This will demonstrate their understanding and will help them to develop good comprehension skills.

Picture books, hard backs, comics, magazines,   poems, and information books are all good sources of reading material to be enjoyed.

Children of all ages love to listen to someone else reading to them, switch roles occasionally!