What can I do to help my child?

As a parent/guardian, you can help your child by being his/her reading coach at home. Ask your child, occasionally, to read aloud to you. Does the reading seem easy and fast? If so, then your child is reading at the right level. Is your child struggling with more than two or three words on a page? If so, then this level book is probably too high. Ask your child to tell you about what he/she is reading. What is his favorite part in the book? Who are her favorite characters? What does she predict will happen next? (Each reader also has a Skills Card. The skills card contains questions that can be asked of a reader at that level.) If your child can easily answer these questions, then the book is probably the right level for him/her. If not, then encourage your child to select a book at a lower level.

How do I know my child is understanding what he/she is reading?

There are a number of questions you can ask your child after she reads to ensure that she is comprehending, or understanding, what she is reading. Research has shown that discussion of what one reads increases comprehension of what one reads. Always encourage your child to tell you about what he is reading and feel free to ask him any combination of the questions found at Comprehension Questions.