Pequenakonck Elementary School

Reading at School and Home

Reading. What is it?

Do you remember when you first learned to read? Some people might remember basal readers, like the adventures of Dick and Jane. Other people might remember workbooks. Some people might remember sitting with their parents and reading books together. Still others might just remember suddenly being able to “do it.” Whatever you remember, there are many skills that you used to help you make meaning from the text. Even now as you read this, you are using the same skills that you developed long ago.

Today we still teach skills and strategies to help children become fluent readers. However, the approach to teaching reading has changed. Many children are now taught reading using a balanced literacy approach using authentic literature while still developing vocabulary and decoding skills and phonemic awareness.

Reading is a skill and like any other skill, the more you practice the better you get. To help your child become a critical thinker and independent reader, your child should read regularly and read different types of reading materials. The list below offers tips and suggestions to help you help your child become an independent reader and to learn more about reading and writing at PQ.