Progressive practical tips
to help your child to read
· Talk to your child- using lots of language that they will ‘soak up’.
· Read to your child on a daily basis.
· Start to show them ‘how to read’ by pointing to each word as you read to them.
· Make up stories orally and get them to join in.
· Start with simple picture books with one or two words. Repetitive books are best so that they associate the written word with the orally spoken word.
· Introduce flashcards with simple words and pictures
· Move on to simple books and get them to read a page and you read a page.
· Teach simple phonics- sound out a word- cat (c-a-t).
· Use magnetic letters to create words show your child how each sound can be blended with others to read a word.
· Start with 2 sounds and move onto 3 sounds: ‘on’ and ‘dog’
· If you are teaching phonics use the letters and sounds teaching as simple sounds are taught first (s, a, t, p, i, n) www.letters-and-sounds.com/
· Teach ‘tricky’ words that can’t be read through phonics – e.g. ‘the, when’. Again use flashcards- get them to look, repeat, say the word. Do this on a daily basis so that it will stay in their long term memory.
· Read books that have a mixture of words that can be read through phonics and ‘tricky’ words.
· Get your child to read daily. Discuss a book. Ask questions – e.g. What do you think will happen next?
· Go to the library, get them to ‘enjoy’ reading. Let them pick books that they will enjoy!
Once your child has grasped the basics, build on teaching them 4 sound words- e.g. ‘trap’ then 5 sound words and so on. Gradually your child will have the confidence then to ‘attack’ longer words independently. The key to reading is being able to read ‘fluently’ so that reading is NOT laboured and it is enjoyable.
Good luck and enjoy reading with your child. 😊
Suzanne McDowell
West Midlands Dyslexia – National Dyslexia Network
Dyslexia Specialist Teacher/Assessor and Centre Manager