Ways to Encourage Literacy at Home

Reading tips:

! Read along side your child. This shows them that you think reading is important.

! Ask your child to read aloud to you.

! Read aloud to your child.

! Ask them questions about their books (See back of page).

! Find a special area in the house that could be a quiet reading zone.

! Expose your child to all types of print (newspaper, magazines, quotes, etc.).

! Take trips to the library on a regular basis.

Writing Tips:

! Help your child “collect” writing in their writer’s notebooks.

! Have an area set up with writing supplies (post-its, pencils, colored pencils, paper, notebooks).

! Encourage your child to share their writing with you.

! Encourage your child to do “fun” writing.

! Encourage to explore all types of writing (nonfiction, poetry, etc.).

! Notice all the types of writing around (grocery lists, posters, quotes, etc.).

! Encourage imagination and creativity!

“Writing is, the one thing that give things life and spice and interest and meaning”

-Meindert De Jong

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Possible Questions for Discussion

Before Reading:

! Look at the cover. What do you think the book will be about?

! Take a picture walk. Can you predict what is happening on each page?

! Why did you choose this book?

! What questions do you have about the book or story?

During Reading:

! Depending on the age of your child, stop after each page and ask them to retell what happened (primary grades).

! At the end of a chapter have your child summarize the chapter (upper grades).

! What is important about what you just read?

! Predict what will happen next.

! How would you feel if you were the character?

After Reading:

! What was your favorite part of the story or book? Why?

! Does the story remind you of anything?

! Is this story like any other story you have read?

! What were you thinking about as you read

Reading opens the mind to imagination!

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Picture Books for All Ages

Home Run- Robert Burleigh

Night in the Country- Cynthia Rylant

The Whales- Cynthia Rylant

Water Dance- Thomas Locker

The Relatives Came- Cynthia Rylant

Scarecrow- Cynthia Rylant

An Angel for Solomon Singer- Cynthia Rylant

The Dot- Peter H. Reynolds

Tulip Sees America- Cynthia Rylant

No David!- David Shannon

David Goes to School – David Shannon

Tough Boris- Mem Fox

Koala Lou-Mem Fox

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge- Mem Fox

My Rotten Red Headed Older Brother- Patricia Polacco

Chrysanthemum- Kevin Henkes

Fireflies- Julie Brinkloe

What you Know First- Patricia MacLachlan

All the Places to Love- Patricia MacLachlan

Thank You, Mr. Falker- Patricia Polacco

Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook- Michael Garland

The Memory String- Eve Bunting

Bat Loves The Night- Nicola Davies

One Tiny Turtle- Nicola Davies

The Emperor’s Egg- Martin Jenkins

Gentle Giant Octopus- Brenda Wallace

Fireboat- Maira Kalman

Snowy Day- Ezra Jack Keats

A Letter to Amy- Ezra Jack Keats

Go to authors: Cynthia Rylant, Patricia Polacco, Mem Fox, Kevin Henkes, Eve Bunting, Patricia Mac Lachlan, Ezra Jack Keats

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Strategy for Retelling or Summarizing a paragraph, page, chapter, or book

Somebody, Wanted, But, So….Then begin again!

Somebody (Charlie) Wanted (a golden ticket), But( he had no money to buy a Wonka Bar), So( he began to walk home).