ABC's for Reading Success Letter

Ask your child to read with you every day.
Be a good listener and a good reading buddy.
Congratulate your child for any attempts at letter and word recognition.
Discuss illustrations in a book and how it relates to the story.
Encourage early attempts to memorize whole words.
Find patterns in the text. Are there rhyming words? Repeated words?
Give your child gifts of literature.
Help your child pick out "just right" reading books.
Investigate varied reading material, such as plays and poetry.
Join a children's story time group at a bookstore or a library.
Keep your child on a regular daily reading schedule.
Limit television viewing. Have a nightly family read-aloud time instead.
Make reading a fun and positive experience for your child.
Notice and discuss road signs and billboards while driving.
Organize a quiet reading place in your home.
Provide your child with many opportunities to read.
Question your child's understanding while reading.
Read to your child often. Show how much you enjoy literature.
Sample varied letter activities, such as playing with magnetic letters.
Take time to talk about the parts of a story that your child enjoyed.
Use a computer. Try using children's beginning reading software programs.
Visit your local library often.
Work in partnership with your child's teacher.
Xerox and read interesting articles about beginning readers.
Your involvement and excitement will give your child confidence.
Zip through these suggestions on a regular basis.