May Tips from Miss Julie
Online Book Club Offers Various Activities for Kids
Check out the National Geographic Book Club for Kids (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/bookclub. You'll find online reading adventures, suggested reading lists, games, contests, and activities. Your child can even submit her own book review that may be published online.
April Tips from Miss Julie
How can you tell whether a book is too hard?
If you're wondering whether a book is on your child's reading level, use the "rule of thumb." Have your child read a page of the book aloud. Have her hold up one finger for each word she does not know. If she holds up four fingers and a thumb before the end of the page, the book is probably too hard for her to read alone. But it might be a great book to read aloud.
March Tips from Miss Julie
Challenge Your Child to Learn and Use Synonyms and Antonyms
Most of us have a few words that we use every day. One of the best ways to expand vocabulary is by looking for synonyms--words that have the same or similar meaning and antonyms--words that mean the opposite. For example, instead of saying that something is large, your child could say it's colossal or gigantic or even stupendous. A thesaurus is one of the best reference works for children who want to improve their vocabulary because it contains both synonyms and antonyms. One way to encourage your child to use synonyms and antonyms is by playing a word game. You give a word and then ask him or her to give you a synonym or antonym. Then switch places.
February Tips from Miss Julie
Plan a Backseat Scavenger Hunt
I know that many families are traveling for the Chinese New Year. You might be spending many hours in a car. Here's a fun way to build on your child's reading skills during these trips. Before you leave, make a list of things you might see along the way. Your child could check them off when they see it on the trip. Or have your child write down every English word they see on a sign. Challenge them to find a certain number of words! Everyone in the car can play (except the driver, of course.) Have a happy New Year and safe trip.
January Tips from Miss Julie
Create Your Own Word-Search Puzzle
Use graph paper to create a hidden words puzzle. Write the words from your child's spelling or vocabulary list on graph paper, placing each letter in its own square. Scatter the words over the page. After you write the words, fill in all the blank squares with random letters. Challenge your child to circle the "hidden words." Review the puzzle together for any hard- to- find words. For additional ideas on creating your own puzzles, visit: http://www.puzzlemaker.com.
Create Your Own Word-Search Puzzle
Use graph paper to create a hidden words puzzle. Write the words from your child's spelling or vocabulary list on graph paper, placing each letter in its own square. Scatter the words over the page. After you write the words, fill in all the blank squares with random letters. Challenge your child to circle the "hidden words." Review the puzzle together for any hard- to- find words. For additional ideas on creating your own puzzles, visit: http://www.puzzlemaker.com.
December Tips from Miss Julie
Writing with your Child- Use Pictures to Create a Story
Have your child look through old magazines and cut out three or four pictures that interest them. Now ask them to think about how those pictures could tell a story. Ask him to number the pictures--1,2,3,4. Then write a short story that tells what happened. For variety, rearrange the pictures to see if your child can create a completely different story.
Writing with your Child- Use Pictures to Create a Story
Have your child look through old magazines and cut out three or four pictures that interest them. Now ask them to think about how those pictures could tell a story. Ask him to number the pictures--1,2,3,4. Then write a short story that tells what happened. For variety, rearrange the pictures to see if your child can create a completely different story.
November Tips from Miss Julie
Talking Can Build Both Reading and Language Skills
It's important to read with your child, to be a reading role model, and to encourage him/her to read on their own. But it's just as important to talk with your child.
When she/he is talking with you, your child isn't just building vocabulary and conversation skills. She/he is building thought patterns and making the brain links to develop strong language and reading skills too.
Talk with your child often. Talk about what they are learning in school. Talk about their hobbies and interests. And of course, talk about what the two of you are reading together!
October Tips from Miss Julie
Imagination and Experience Improve Memory
Help your child remember what they read. To do so, the words they are reading need to have some meaning to them. Have your child draw pictures that represent new or difficult words. If they are learning about a new culture, cook a recipe from that culture. Imagination and positive experience improve memory.
September Tips from Miss Julie
As we are beginning the school year, it is important to establish routines with your child when it comes to reading in English. Set aside time each day for your child to read in a quiet place. Each child has a RAZ Kids account to get the right level book for them to read. If they want to reread books that they’ve read before, that’s great! We want kids to enjoy stories and if they have favorite books, it’s a nice way for them to continue practicing and working on reading more smoothly (fluently).
As our children get older and become better readers, we often stop reading with them. But reading to your child and having conversations about the book is very valuable. It helps them become a better student because they know how to think and talk about books. Questions that you could ask your child as you read are:
Imagination and Experience Improve Memory
Help your child remember what they read. To do so, the words they are reading need to have some meaning to them. Have your child draw pictures that represent new or difficult words. If they are learning about a new culture, cook a recipe from that culture. Imagination and positive experience improve memory.
September Tips from Miss Julie
As we are beginning the school year, it is important to establish routines with your child when it comes to reading in English. Set aside time each day for your child to read in a quiet place. Each child has a RAZ Kids account to get the right level book for them to read. If they want to reread books that they’ve read before, that’s great! We want kids to enjoy stories and if they have favorite books, it’s a nice way for them to continue practicing and working on reading more smoothly (fluently).
As our children get older and become better readers, we often stop reading with them. But reading to your child and having conversations about the book is very valuable. It helps them become a better student because they know how to think and talk about books. Questions that you could ask your child as you read are:
- What do you think will happen next? (prediction)·
- Has this ever happened to you? (connection)
- Remind me where we left off and what was happening in the story (retell)
- What would you do if you were that character?