Martha B. Day School
Pre-K ~ Kindergarten ~ First Grade

Where All Children Can and Do Learn

Welcome to BSI!

Reading is so much more than "sound it out"...

We hate to see children struggle, and it is our first instinct to jump in and "save" them from frustration. To help your child grow as an independent reader, it is important that the books he or she chooses to read have some element of challenge. Here are some prompts to help you avoid intervening when you and your child read together. These statements will prompt your child to figure out the right strategy. Your words will help nudge him or her
in the right direction.

When your child gets off-track, you could say:
"Try pointing to the words as you read."
"Use your finger to help you keep track."
"Try it again and touch the words as
your mouth says them."

When your child substitutes an incorrect word:
"Would that make sense? Try it again."
"What would sound right?"
"Is that the word? Why or why not?"

When your child stops at an unknown word:
"Look at the picture - does it help?"
"Read it again, what would make sense?"
"Is there any part or chunk of
the word you can read?"

When your child makes an attempt to correct a mistake:
"Great job! You knew something wasn't right!"
"Great thinking! Good readers fix their mistakes!"
"You figured that out yourself!"
"You got it! Let's try to read that sentence again"

***
Most importantly, help make reading fun! Provide a good example for your child by letting him or her see
you read, reread, AND make mistakes. Talk to your child about what he or she is reading
and what you have read.

Martha B. Day School
225 Rafkind Road
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
         Ph: 973.838.1311         
Fax: 973.283.1476