TIPS FOR INFANTS

Talk to baby:

Your child has been hearing you even before birth, while growing inside you. The sounds you make mean life to them, as well as attention and love.

Read to baby:

Children absorb everything! They appreciate cooing and cuddling, baby talk and full sentences. Put those book gifts to good use early.

TIPS FOR TODDLERS

Talk to Toddler:

Even if they don’t understand every word you use, your toddler understands what you are communicating. This is how they learn what words mean.

Read to Toddler:

Put them in your lap and read the same stories again and again. Teach them how to carefully turn pages, and how wonderful your reading time can be.

TIPS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Read and Write:

Teach your child not just to read but how to write! Work on printing their name and the names of their pets or favorite animals.

Listen and Learn:

Teach your children by example that it’s important both to speak and listen.  Let them see you reading, and they’ll want to do it too.

MORE READING RESULTS

Basic: This level denotes partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade. Students performing at the basic level should demonstrate an understanding of the overall meaning of what they read. They should be capable of making relatively obvious connections between the text and their own experiences, and extend the ideas in the text by making simple inferences.

Proficient: This level denotes solid academic performance. Students have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, subject-matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real-world situations and analytical skills appropriate to the subject matter. Students at this level should be capable of demonstrating an overall understanding of the text, provide inferential as well as literal information. They should be able to extend the ideas in the text by making inferences, drawing conclusions, and making connections to their own experiences.

Advanced: This level denotes superior performance. Students at this level should be able to generalize about topics in the reading selection and demonstrate an awareness of how authors compose and use literary devices, judge texts critically and , in general, give thorough answers that indicate careful thought.

TIPS OF HOW TO HELP ‘LOVE OF READING’ GROW...

Providing a warm, rewarding and loving environment is critical to the development of children’s reading skills.
Encourage children to talk and parents to listen, and ask questions.

Language begins to emerge during infancy. It is within the home and family environment where children should learn many, many new words from their parents/caregivers.

The books read to children are most effective when they mirror their culture. High quality reading instruction and a cultural approach is key to building strong literacy skills.

Learning the alphabet, phonics, spelling and writing are essential to literacy, but it is also important to help children make meaning of what they are reading.

What the Parents are Saying:

Reading is a necessary survival skill and starts early and at home.

Although they are confident in their ability help their children learn to read, they are confident that they can help their children learn to love to read.

Very few view reading as an escape, a joy, or fun.

They are reluctant to admit a connection between poverty and reading ability.

They believe the most important things they can do to contribute to early literacy are conversations with children, actively listening children, and creating a predictable environment for children.

When you read aloud to your child, is it a rewarding experience or an exercise in frustration? Here are some ways to help ensure an enjoyable experience for both of you when you read aloud, with children's books that make great read alouds and effective reading aloud techniques.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 20 minutes
Here's How:

1. You don't have to wait for your baby to get to a certain age to begin reading children's books to him. Start now!

2. Continue reading aloud to your child until he is at least 10 years old. Children continue to benefit from listening to others read long after they themselves have learned to read children's books.

3. For young children, children's books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition are excellent. Be sure to read Mother Goose rhymes often.

4. Be consistent about reading aloud to your child. Do it daily and, if possible, about the same time every day. Reading children's books right before bedtime often works well.

5. If you have several small children, you can read to them together. Picture books work well for this.

6. Don't be surprised if your children want to hear a favorite children's book again and again. That's fine. As they get to really know the story well, have them fill in words for you.

7. Try to choose children's books that are above your child's reading level but at the child's interest level.

8. Some children love reading about the same characters. If that's what your child likes, choose several short books in a series or a longer chapter book. Reading a chapter a night works well.

9. Vary the subject matter of what you read as well as the type. In addition to fiction, you might also read poetry, magazine articles and non-fiction.

10. Try to find children's books that match your child's interests. Get suggestions from the children's librarian at your school or public library. Check with a bookseller at your favorite bookstore.

11. If your children are several years apart you will need to read to them individually as they get older to ensure that each children's book you choose is at the appropriate reading and interest level for each child.

12. As your child gets older and gains in reading ability, occasionally pick a book right at her reading level and take turns reading to one another.

Tips:

1. When reading a chapter of a children's book each night, always review what happened in the previous night's chapter before starting a new chapter.

2. When you begin reading aloud to a baby, you will only be able to keep your baby's attention for a few minutes. That's to be expected.

3. As children mature, so do their attention spans.

What You Need:

* children's books
* time
* enthusiasm