Reading at Home

Long before your child starts school, they begin learning to read through everyday interactions. As they enter school, you can continue to support your child’s reading at home. The Regional Educational Laboratory Program at Florida State University has developed family activities to help your child practice their reading skills. These activities are divided based on grade and recommendation. Below are the recommendations and one example of an activity to support the recommendation:

Kindergarten

  • Recommendation 1:  Talking while you read
 
  • Recommendation 2:  Linking sounds to letters
  • Recommendation 3:  Blending letters, recognizing and writing words
  • Recommendation 4:  Reading for understanding

First Grade

  • Recommendation 1:  Developing language
  • Recommendation 2:  Linking sounds to letters
  • Recommendation 3:  Blending letters, recognizing and writing words
  • Recommendation 4:  Reading for understanding

Second Grade

  • Recommendation 1:  Developing language
  • Recommendation 2:  Linking sounds to letters
    • Linking individual letter sounds to letters is typically achieved by second grade. However, if a child needs practice with pulling apart and putting together sounds in spoken words and linking sounds to letters in print (M says /m/), please visit Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home, First Grade, Recommendation 2
  • Recommendation 3:  Blending letters, recognizing and writing words
  • Recommendation 4:  Reading for understanding

Third Grade

  • Recommendation 1:  Developing language
  • Recommendation 2:  Linking sounds to letters
    • Linking individual letter sounds to letters is typically achieved by second grade. However, if a child needs practice with pulling apart and putting together sounds in spoken words and linking sounds to letters in print (M says /m/), please visit Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home, First Grade, Recommendation 2
  • Recommendation 3:  Blending letters, recognizing and writing words
  • Recommendation 4:  Reading for understanding

The videos listed above are just a small example of the information shared. There are additional videos of reading activities, documents to help you, and suggested books for each level and recommendation. Click here to visit the Regional Educational Laboratory Program website to take advantage of all the activities to support your child’s reading at home. If your child doesn’t seem to be reading at their age level, please discuss it with your pediatrician.