Give your children the gift of reading every day, and you will change their lives. Let’s work together towards making our children become lifelong readers.

We want to partner with you to make reading become a habit in your household. You are so important to your child’s success as a reader. What you like, your child likes. When children see you reading, they want to read too. You are a very powerful model for your children.

Before children learn how to read, we need to read for and with them Before children learn how to read, we need to read for and with them. Find a comfortable place to read, be consistent about reading every day, and select books that both you and your children will love to read together. Here are some special tips to help you get started. .

Reading together creates a special bond that you and your child will have together. Find a book you love to read and share it with your child. He or she will love it too because you selected it. You are also developing a habit that will extend into the next generation as your children will be inspired to read to their future children. You hold the future in your hands!

As you and your child read together you will learn about the books he or she loves to listen to during the reading. Your child is showing an interest in books; select books that reflect his or her interests too. Help your child choose that “just right” book that keeps them interested in reading with you.

Twenty minutes is a magical number because children who read 20 minutes a day are exposed to about 1.8 million more words a year than a child who does not read or is not read to. If you get to hear, see, say, and read more than 1 million words every year, you are really more prepared for what you are expected to do in school. Make reading become a habit in your home. Twenty minutes a day is all you need to make a big difference for your child.

When children are first learning to read, having your child participate in reading aloud with you is a great way to help him or her continue to grow as a reader. The most important thing to keep in mind is to make sure your child doesn’t get frustrated or tired. You may choose to read a page and then your child can read a page to you. Find ways to support your child’s reading aloud with you; sometimes you might read a page and then have your child read it again to you. You don’t have to be a reading expert; you just need to make sure that your child continues to enjoy the read-aloud experience with you.

Alphabet books are a great way to share the reading with your child Alphabet books are a great way to share the reading with your child. You read the page, then have your child re-read the same page. You can also say: “Let’s read this together.” It’s o.k. if you have the lead voice during this kind of reading. You are supporting your child’s reading this way.

Predictable books contain sentences that are repeated several times Predictable books contain sentences that are repeated several times. Pete the Cat books are known for having predictable lines that children can read with you. Children can easily participate in the reading when familiar lines are repeated throughout the book. Use your finger to show children how you are reading the words. Encourage your child to repeat the words you have just read line by line. Every time you come to the predictable line, have your child be the reader. This practice helps your child develop confidence as a beginning reader!

Don’t be afraid to read the same story over and over again Don’t be afraid to read the same story over and over again. Every time you read this story, your child learns more about the words and the content. Use index cards and make the question words, who, what, when where, how and why. Take turns asking each other questions about the story.

When your child becomes an independent reader, it’s always important to monitor his or her reading progress. Help your child learn how to preview what he or she will be reading. Go over the table of contents, look at the illustrations, make a prediction about what the book is going to be about. Ask your child questions about what he or she has read. Take the time to show an interest in what your child is currently reading.

There’s a just right book for every child; folk and fairy tales are a good way to start because so many of our fiction stories can be related to folk and fairy tales. Help your child find a book that makes him or her excited to read. You may find them reading with a flashlight after the lights go out for the night as they have to finish the story they started! Count that book as a big success.

Chapter books are longer books that are usually introduced in the second or third grade. If a chapter book is too hard for your child to read, remember that you can read the book aloud to him, support him as he reads, or have him or her repeat a page you have already read to gain confidence. Break the book into sections, and decide how much you will read before you start. Many children love to read books that are part of a series. Ask for series books at your library or Book Fair.

Don’t forget about non-fiction. All children love to learn more about the natural world. Reading about real life sports heroes or famous men and women interests many young readers. Encourage your child to read non-fiction books at home.

If your child wants to read a special book, help him or her find a way to do so. Sometimes you will have to help with the reading. You may read the book aloud to your child. It doesn’t matter if the book is too hard or too easy. It does matter that your child wants to read the book. Every time children listen to you reading, they learn more about vocabulary and comprehension. They learn so many new things about our world.

Give your child the best of all gifts: visit your local library often Give your child the best of all gifts: visit your local library often. A library card is a ticket to unlimited adventure and exploration in the universe of imagination. It opens a world of possibilities, and better yet, it is free. Reading well and often is the key to being successful in school. Regular library use helps create strong readers.

Starting a home library for your child shows her how important books are to you and your family. Your home library starts with collecting one book at a time. Become a treasure hunter. Go to flea markets, the local library, used bookstores, the Book Fair, or even garage sales. A cardboard box or a wooden packing crate that you can decorate together may make a good bookcase. Pick a special place where you will keep your child's books so that she knows where to look for them. Help your child arrange books in some order; use whatever method that will help him or her most easily find the book he or she is looking to read.

The greatest partnership you can develop between your home and your school is the one that supports what your child is learning in school. Make reading a priority in your home. We guarantee you will enjoy rereading many of the picture book classics you read when you were a child. We hope it brings back memories of your reading favorite stories that you can talk with your child about when you read together. Happy Reading together!