6 Oral Reading Tips for Parents - Student Resources

6 Oral Reading Tips for Parents

Mother reading to daughter on her lap outside

According to the National Center for Education statistics, only 53 percent of children age three to five are read to daily by a family member. Children who are read to at home enjoy a substantial advantage over children who are not. That starts from infancy and continues throughout schooling.

It is essential for children to continue to read frequently as they get older and be exposed to a variety of genres to maintain reading proficiency.

Read Aloud Video Still

Here are six tips for parents to make oral reading at home more impactful.

  1. Read Aloud
  2. Create a Space
  3. Highlight Patterns
  4. Repeat to Practice
  5. Take a Moment Occasionally
  6. Have a discussion

Read Aloud

Have your child read aloud to you each night through elementary school. While not necessary, having a specific time establishes a consistent routine.

Create a Space

Make a reading nook in your home that your child will associate with book reading. It should be a well-lit area that is free from distractions and comfortable for you both. It can be as simple as bean bags on the floor, a certain place on the couch, or at the kitchen table.

Highlight Patterns

As your child reads, point out significant patterns in spelling and sounds. For instance, the plural of mouse is mice, “ph” makes an “f” sound, and the “w” sound is silent when in front of an “r.”mother leaning over to talk to her daughter while she is sitting on the couch studying

Repeat to Practice

When your child skips or mispronounces a word and keeps reading, point to the word, say it, and have your child repeat it. When your child stops to self-correct how a word is pronounced and gets it right, praise her. Re-read the whole sentence to ensure comprehension.

Take a Moment Occasionally

While reading, pause to ask your child questions about the characters and events in the story. Sometimes kids are reading, but not fully understanding because they are focused on the mechanics. Before getting to the end of the story, ask your child what she thinks will happen next. Ask her to support her answer with a reason.

Have a discussion

After finishing the story or the chapter, ask your child to tell you in her words what happened. Ask follow up questions if important pieces are missing in the summary. Use the illustrations to ask him to describe what happened.

Are you looking for even more tips to help develop your children’s reading ability? Never be afraid to seek outside help. Consult with your children’s teachers or consider visiting an after-school program like Kumon.

The Kumon Reading Program builds the critical reading skills that help children develop a lifelong love of reading and solid foundation for academic success. It strengthens reading ability by building essential literacy components such as oral reading, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and summarization.