Helping your child when s/he doesn't know a word

There are many things you can do to help your child figure out a word.  First of all, help your child before he becomes frustrated.  Have him check the picture for clues.  Tell him to look at the first letter of the word, say the sound, and make a guess.  Always encourage him to make the story "sound right" and "make sense".  Rereading is another good way to figure out an unknown word.  Ask your child to go back to the beginning of a sentence and make another attempt at the difficult word.  If your child is still struggling after 5-6 seconds, simply tell him the word.  Let him give it a try first though before supplying the answer.  This builds independence and use of strategic activity on his own.

Check out the latest MLE News Video!

http://youtu.be/8X2Dz49hMc8

Fun Ways to Practice Spelling Words!

Rainbow Write:
Write each letter in a different color.

Hidden Words:
Draw a picture.  Hide your spelling words inside the picture.  See if someone can find them all.

ABC Order:
Write your spelling words in ABC order.  If words start with the same letter, remember to look at the next letter.

Fancy Words:
Write your spelling words in your fanciest writing.

Three Times:
First, write each word in pencil.  Then, write each word in crayon.  Finally, write each word in marker.

Adding My Words:
Vowels are 10 and consonants are 5.  Write your words and then add the value of each word.
Ex.: cat 5+10+5=20

Riddle Me:
Write a riddle for each word.  Don't forget to answer them.
Ex: I am cute.  I wear diapers. Answer: baby

Rhyming Words:
Write each of your spelling words with a rhyming word next to them.  Ex.: cut  shut

UPPER and lower:
Write your words one time with all upper case letters and one time with all lowercase letters.

Magazine Words:
Use an old magazine or newspaper and find your words or letters that make up words.  Glue them down.

Other Handed:
First write your words with the hand you usually do.  Then try to write the list using your other hand.

Shaving Cream:
Write your words on a cookie sheet using shaving cream.

Play-doh:
Make each word with play-doh.

Looking at the Pictures

"My child is always looking at the picture while reading.  Should I cover the picture?"

The answer is "NO!" Experts have learned that good readers check the pictures for clues to the story.  That is why the teacher encourages your child to use the pictures for help.  Being flexible in gathering information is just another tool to help the child be successful in reading.  Covering the pictures would make his search for the correct word or phrase more difficult.  Good readers use every available avenue to help them read and understand.  

What can I do at home to help my child with reading?

READ!
Studies have shown that a child who has been read to grasps the idea early on that print contains a message.  Storybooks have a language all of their own.  So, the more stories that are read to your child, the better!  Bedtime stories not only provide a world of adventure, they give a child wonderful memories of a sense of closeness with a loved one.

Encourage your child to read to you.  Have him/her read books from school.  Most teachers send a book bag home each night.  This is SO IMPORTANT!  Have them look at the pictures first to make predictions about what is going to happen.  After reading the story, discuss what happened.  This helps your child to think about what he/she is reading.

Reading extends beyond story time.  Cereal boxes, store signs, road signs, etc. can be window of opportunity for a young reader.

Let your child see YOU reading as well!