Activities
To Do At
Home
1) Read
to your child. Many people think that once their child learns to
read they don't have to read to their child anymore. Truth is, your child
continues to benefit from you reading to them for many years after they learn to
read on their own.
2) Ask
your child what he/she did in school that day. Even though your child will
probably tell you that we didn't do anything at school today, rest assured that
everyday we learn something new at school.
3) Review
work that is sent home. Check your child's backpack each
day for any work that has been sent home. Review this work with your child each
evening. Ask them to tell you about what they did. Remember, keep positive, or
else your child may not feel comfortable sharing each day.
4) Have
your child read to you. Your child will be bringing home
a Home Reading book each evening, please read this book with him/her. If your
child is not "reading" the words, be patient, your child will soon
learn. Please remember that if your child is using the pictures to help him/her
read, this is a good sign. This is a very important stage in the development of
learning to read. Please do not discourage your child from looking at the
pictures when he/she is reading.
5) Model reading behavior. Set time aside each evening or day to read. It is very important that your child sees you reading. This demonstrates to your child the importance of reading and that they will always use this important skill. It may be a newspaper that you are reading, a magazine, a recipe, or novel. This shows your child that reading has many different uses. Don't hesitate to read books, newspapers, magazines, etc.. in your first language (if it is other than English). It is very important that your child sees you reading. This shows him/her that reading is a lifelong skill.
Creating an Optimal Environment to Support Young Children's Literacy Development
Read aloud to children frequently.
Include a rich variety of books, from fairy tales, fables, and expository books,
to contemporary pieces. Engage in conversation about the book and give children
an opportunity to discuss its meaning from their perspective. Repeated readings
support children's emergent "reading" of those books.
Provide opportunities for children to
independently "read" books by themselves or with others. This allows
children to practice what has been modeled for them and to explore new
dimensions of reading.
Invite children to respond to
storybook readings through a variety of activities, such as drawing, singing,
dramatic play and story retelling. This provides opportunity for meaningful
engagement with the text and extends children's understanding that reading is
about constructing meaning from text.
Engage children in
print-related activities during play, such as pretend reading and writing.
(i.e., Play "restaurant" and order from a menu prepared by the child.
the child "records" your order and serves the pretend food.)
Create a language-rich environment. In addition to books, magazines, and newspapers, use magnetic letters on
the refrigerator to be used for shopping lists, menu playing, messages, days of
the week, children's names, etc. Label furniture and toys in children's rooms.
Seize teachable moments to point out print in the car, the grocery store, on the
bus, in the airport, on the cereal box, etc. Point out literacy conventions.
Talk about similarities & differences in words, words that begin or end with
the same sound. Engage children in dialogue through open-ended questions.
Set up a writing center or corner where children have access to a variety of writing instruments & materials, such as crayons, magic markers, pens, pencils, chalk, magnetic letters, and paper. Encourage them to write for a wide variety of reasons: thank-you notes, letters to grandparents, stories about their pets. Provide opportunities for children to dictate stories to you and encourage them to reread to others.