It is very important that children have a good start with reading from an early age and have opportunities to practice reading. To do well in school, children need to be good readers. Schools shouldn't and can’t take on this responsibility all by themselves. Family members have an important role to play. Reading with children helps them to do better in school and promotes success throughout life.
Most of us know how to read to a child and that’s important, but it is important to go one step further and learn how to read with a child. Children who are learning to read need lots of opportunities to practice, and they need people to read with them. You can be a child’s reading partner. Reading with a child is called “shared reading” because both you and the child are participating in the reading experience. It doesn’t take a lot of time, it’s easy to do, and both you and the child will likely experience greater satisfaction and enjoyment.
What are some of the things you need to think about to make this shared reading time both fun and effective?
- Child-centered – Set aside time where you can focus on the child alone, without distractions.
- Sensitive and respectful – If the child doesn’t like a particular book or seems uncomfortable with it, then switch to another book.
- Realistic – Don’t expect too much too soon.
- Enthusiastic – When you share your love of reading with a child, your enthusiasm is contagious.
- Encouraging – Help the child recognize even small successes.
- Commitment – Let the child know that shared reading is very important to you and then do it regularly.
Shared Reading Strategies
It is important to have fun and easy shared reading strategies that you can use with the child. This list starts with strategies for younger, inexperienced readers and works toward independent solo reading:
- Picture Reading – Ask questions about the pictures or have the child tell a story just by looking at the pictures. Books with lots of pictures such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar are good for this strategy.
- Sighting – Before reading a page or passage, ask the child to find punctuation marks, certain words, specific letters, or the smallest or largest word.
- Discovery Reading – Guide the child through a familiar book, such as Old MacDonald, with the child filling in repeated phrases.
- Echo Reading - Read a passage and have the child read it back to you.
- Unison Reading – Both you and the child read the same passage aloud at the same time.
- Whisper Reading – Read very quietly into your child’s ear while the child reads aloud.
- Stop and Go Reading – You and the child take turns reading, and the child chooses a signal to show that it’s time to switch.
- Solo Reading – the child reads completely independently to you.
Here are some additional suggestions to help the child become a better reader:
- Simply talk with the child.
- Read to and with the child.
- Help the child read solo.
- Actually create books that include art work and writing with the child.
- Have lots of books available.
- Let the child see YOU reading.
- Most importantly, MAKE READING FUN.
Author:
- Shirley Wilkins, Pocahontas County Extension Agent, West Virginia University Extension.
