Five Finger Rule Useful Websites http://www.wordpool.co.uk Check out the big books section where you will find book reviews and links to the Amazon website for purchasing. Read any page of your new book. If there are more than five new words, choose another. Encourage reading at home: Establish a regular story reading routine. http://www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk The most comprehensive online list of authors, illustrators and publishers of children‘s books. How to read to young children at home http://www.storysack.com A company offering commercially produced Storysacks for sale, as well as tips on how to use the sacks. Have lots of books, magazines, newspapers around the home to create a ‘print rich’ environment. Use resources to enhance reading and keep the child‘s attention, for example: props, puppets, musical instruments, published story sacks or big books. Recite rhymes, poems and songs—then show them to the child in print. Visit the library to find exciting children‘s books that you can borrow and take home to read to your child. What to read? http://www.literacymatters.com – A variety of literacy resources from pre-school to grade six. http://www.wcpss.net/readingathome/ Eleven short videos give parents tips about how best to support their children as they develop into strong readers. The desire to read is not born in a child. It is planted by parents and teachers (Treleese, 2001). Fíodhna Gardiner-Hyland © Why Read to Read Aloud Tips Read Aloud Tips Young Children? Reading to your child or your young relatives is a most valuable thing to do. Why? It gives children experience of hearing different types of language, rhythms and sounds Research shows that pre-school children who are exposed to books tend to do better at school It instills a love of reading at an early age It is a wonderful way to bond with young children It is very calming for the child But what if I am not good at Reading Aloud? You really don't have to be an expert. Read very slowly - children respond better when they can hear each read clearly. You can also: Familiarize yourself with the storyline and main characters Practice reading a story aloud with intonation, before reading it to a child Learning begins at birth, start reading to your child at an early age! Before Reading: Read in a comfortable, relaxed place away from other distractions. What children need most is a feeling of comfort about books and reading. Set aside special times each day to read to a child, such as naptime, bedtime, or after meals. Introduce the book – set the scene, show the book cover, illustrations, ask questions about the title and author. Encourage the child to predict what will happen in the story. Introduce a few key words from the story. While Reading: Share the reading by allowing the child to touch the book, point to the words and pictures, turn the pages and join in the reading itself. Reread favorite stories as often as the child wants to hear them. Children are comforted and learn best from repetition. Post Reading: Discuss the story with the child by asking questions and encouraging answers. Help your child link the story with their own experiences or other books. Act out/dress up as one of the characters. Illustrate favourite scene. Compose a different beginning/ending. Read with expression and enthusiasm. Vary your voice—use pitch: reading in a monotone, high pitched, low pitched and use gestures where appropriate. Read slowly, pausing for effect. Play word games e.g. I spy with my little eye; how many words can you think of that sound like the word ‗bat‘?; complete the sentence from the story; true or false cards, word bingo. Point to each word as you read and ask the child questions about the story, for example, ―what do you think will happen next?‖ Model all kinds of reading with the child. Let them see you read the newspaper, recipes, signs etc. Comment on what you are reading so that they see that reading has many purposes. Choose books that interest the child and relate to their world. Put the child in the story.