If your child is just beginning to read

At school you should see teachers... • Systematically teaching phonics--how sounds and letters are related. • Giving children the opportunity to practice the letter-sound relationships they are learning. Children have the chance to practice sounds and letters by reading easy books that use words with the letter-sound relationships they are learning. • Helping children write the letter-sound relationships they know by using them in words, sentences, messages, and their own stories. • Showing children ways to think about and understand what they are reading. The teacher asks children questions to show them how to think about the meaning of what they read. At home you can help by... • Pointing out the letter-sound relationships your child is learning on labels, boxes, newspapers, magazines and signs. • Listening to your child read words and books from school. Be patient and listen as your child practices. Let your child know you are proud of his reading.