The
transition
Your child has gone beyond decoding words and has become a fluent reader.
Moving from books with many pictures and large type to ones with small
type and few to no pictures may be difficult for some.
To ease this transition you might try several options:
Read magazines. Magazines can be a special treat for new readers,
especially on subjects of great interest, such as animals, video games, or
sports.
Read a
collection of fairy tales or short stories. Completing a short story will offer a sense of accomplishment.
Read nonfiction books, how-to books,
and cookbooks. These books often
lend themselves to browsing, not complete reading. This might come as
a relief to a new, overwhelmed reader. It also reinforces an important
fact that reading conveys information.
Read
joke or riddle books. This is a good comprehension tool: To get the
joke or guess the riddle, the reader must truly understand what he or she has just read. And they tend to be short!
So many choices... what to do?
With countless books to chose from, here
are some ideas for getting started.
Series
books are wonderful for newly fluent readers. These books often have a
comfortable "formula" and consistent style.
Discover
a favorite author and read everything he or she has to offer.
Ask
a librarian, teacher, or your child's friends for book recommendations.
Use the Kids Catalog to find books on topics
kids like.
Movies
based on books and books based on movies make for a fun
comparison.
Think about what interests the reader personally. School? Animals? Hockey?
Mysteries? Read all about it!
Most
of all, let the reader choose his or her own books!
The future
Now that your child is a fluent reader...
Continue
reading
aloud together. Children need to hear what good reading sounds like.
Reading together is fun and is and excellent
opportunity to share ideas and thoughts.
Take an active interest in what your child is reading. Although you're
encouraging your reader to choose his or her own books, there's nothing wrong with
suggesting some of your old favorites too!
If you feel your child is struggling or not progressing, seek
help from your child's teacher or reading specialist. The sooner action is taken, the sooner your
child can catch up or become more comfortable with the situation.
Chapter-a-Night
Readalouds
Books
for Independent Readers
Recommended
Websites
Suggested
Books for Parents
Ask
a Librarian
