Tips for reading aloud with young children.

1. EARLY BIRD. Read with your child from as early as possible.

2. ROLE MODEL. Let your child see YOU reading.

3. COVER STORY. Explore books with your child, using book covers. Show the cover to your child while hiding the title. Ask your child to predict what the story will be about. Add the title and see if the answer changes.

4. ART LOVER. Spend time looking closely at the illustrations. Draw your child deeper into the book by asking questions about the llustrations

5. PLOT PREDICTIONS. Ask for predictions of what they think will happen next, monitoring them throughout.

6. TRACE ALONG. When reading with a young child, place your finger under each word as you say it. Read slowly.

7. FOLLOW THE READER. Start each sentence and let your child finish it once he/she is old enough to talk.

8. MASTERPIECE THEATRE. Vary the tone of your voice as you read. Use dramatic voices to differentiate between characters or to highlight key parts of the story.

9. SOUND SYMBOLS. Identify a letter or a symbol (easy ones are I and T) to stand for a word. Have the children make the letter or the symbol every time the word comes up.

10. CLAP ALONG. Introduce your child to a sound used in the story and have him/her clap or wiggle his/her fingers whenever he/she hears you read a word with that sound.

11. I HEARD THE WORD. Teach your child a word that may be repeated throughout the book and let him/her say it when it appears.

12. Q&A. Ask your child general questions about the story. Some easy ones are:

What was your favourite/least favourite part and why?

Do you think this is the best possible title? Why? If not, what would be a better title?

What did you learn from the story?

13. MAKE A PICTURE. Ask your child to draw a picture about the story and discuss it.

For more information on reading to your child, contact the Ministry of Education. Email: communications@moey.gov.jm. Phone 502 5827

- Ministry of Education