Your beginning reader has  brought home a book to read for homework.  This is so exciting, but now you wonder:  “How can I help when there is a problem?”  Good question!

 First of all, there should not be many problems.  A child does not make progress while reading at frustration level.  So use this “handy” rule to see if the book is too hard.  Every time there is a problem, put down one finger.  When you have put down your whole hand, that’s enough on these little beginning books.  Just finish the book for the child.  Later on you can use the hand rule on every page of a longer book.

 There could be two types of problems:  the child stops on a word and waits for help or gives the wrong word.

 Let’s take the second type of problem first.  If your child makes a mistake, don’t butt in!  Make a mental note of the mistake, but don’t correct it.  Self-correction is one of the most important steps toward becoming an independent reader.  You must allow it to happen.  At the end of the book go back to one or two (not all!)  of the most important mistakes.  First see if he can find his own mistake.  If not, give some clues.

 Now, what do you do when the child stops on a hard or tricky word? Don’t jump in too fast.  If you wait, she may figure it out.  If not,  it’s best to make a vague suggestion like:

• Does the picture help?
• What would make sense?
• Look at the first letter and get your mouth ready.

Notice I didn’t say, “Sound it out!”  That’s because this is not a good prompt.  Children don’t really know what it means and usually start breaking the word up into a sound for every letter.  That’s not nearly as helpful as looking for larger chunks or groups of letters.  It’s just best to never let those words pass through your lips!

Of course, there’s always–tell the word!  It’s ok.  You’re the parent, not the teacher.

It’s important that this be a warm, enjoyable time together, just like when you read to your child (and I hope are still reading to your child.)  Getting all the words right is not nearly so important as learning to love reading and some day choosing to read on her own when she doesn’t have to.