How can I help my child practice reading?
Parent/Kiddo Correspondence Journal
1. Buy a notebook, or blank book, or make a book with scratch paper. Ask your child's teacher what kind of paper is used at school for penmanship practice. If you can use this same type of paper in your journal, it will help, but don't get too caught up on this detail.
2. Decorate the cover with your child and explain that it is a special place where you will write notes to one another.
3. Designate a place (together) where you will put the journal once it is ready to be read by the other person. (Under the other's pillow is fun, but if bedtime isn't good for that at your house try: a desk, the kitchen table, a special pocket outside the bedroom door/s, anywhere that you will both see it).
4. Next, set a goal together as to how often you will write to one another each week. In my experience, the journal gets used daily at first, and then interest wanes and gets forgotten about. No need to over do this! I'd say one note per week per person is a good start. Don't feel bad if your child writes to you and you don't have time to write back right away. That's okay! But DO write back within the week, or as decided upon together.
5. When your child is not around (the mystery is all the fun in this!) write your child a note.
Follow these letter-writing guidelines:
Start with the date in the top right corner of the page.
Begin it with a proper heading: Dear __________,
Capitalize your sentences.
Make sure to ask at least one question.
Sign it properly: Love, __________ or From, ___________ or Sincerely, _________.
Now place it in the decided upon spot.
6. When your child responds, you or another adult or older sibling may need to help him/her properly begin the note, answer the question and sign the note. I required that my students all ask me a question in each note as well.
An example of excerpts from a journal between myself and a student went like this:
November 4, 2011
Dear Maya,
I am happy that you are in my reading class this year. What is one of your favorite books?
From, Mrs. S.
November 9, 2011
Dear Mrs. S.,
It is fun to be in your class. I like the book Frog and Toad. Do you like pizza?
From, Maya
November 16, 2011
Dear Maya,
Frog and Toad is a funny book. I like the one where they look for the lost button best. Which Frog and Toad story do you like best? I love pizza! Cheese is my favorite. What kind of pizza is your favorite?
From, Mrs. S.
11/18/11
Dear Mrs. S.,
I like cheese pizza too! Do you like chocolate?
From, Maya
Okay - so remember this is to make reading (and writing! Tricky, aren't we!?) authentic and fun. Write clearly - no cursive for our new readers - and it's okay if you write more than your child. As long as your child answers your question and asks you a new one (plus has the date, a proper greeting and a proper salutation too!) then, I write a note back. If these things haven't been done, it's okay to let your child know what you expect and then give him/her another day or two to finish.
Now - let the bonding begin - all in the name of falling in love with reading (and writing!)
