Ask Heather:
These are some great questions I’ve been asked about teaching children to read!
What type of questions can I ask my child while I am reading to her?
There are different types of questions you can ask your child to make a more effective reading aloud experience. Reading Aloud Questions: Comprehension Questions: Questions that check that your child is understanding the story. There is only one correct answer to...
Should I still read to my child?
I think reading to your child is important and that there is no need to stop reading to your child if your child enjoys hearing stories. Reading aloud models correct reading techniques and models how to read with expression. When you do read aloud to your child you...
I need help teaching my daughter to combine sounds together. Can you give me some advice?
Some tips for Blending/Beginning Reading: Use the 2 Letter Blends from the 2 Letter Blend Flashcards for 2 Letter Blend to use in these examples 1. Get a Magnetic white board and Magnetic Letters: Show each letter far apart and have you child read them Left to Right....
Do u have any other ideas for teaching Letter Sounds? I would like to try different ideas with my daughter every few nights.
More ideas for teaching LEtter Sounds: 1. Videos on www.FirstStepReading.com 2. Flashcards: Say sound and have your child find the correct Letter 3. Flashcards: have you child say the Sound as he/she sees each Letter 4. Create a matching flashcard game of Pictures of...
What is your opinion on rewarding children for learning? Do u think extrinsic rewards will make my child feel like learning is a chore?
I personally have had REALLY good experiences with rewarding my children for reading. They see reading as their job. Jobs earn money and their job earns points. I find that they work harder and push themselves more with a reward system. If they are working to get...
I have more than one child should they read together?
I found that it is best to do reading one on one. The Video Lessons can be done as a group but the reading/flashcards are best if you work with each of your children separately so that you can help each child at that child’s level of understanding. Each child learns...
At what age should I start teaching my child to read?
I find that most children are ready to begin the learning to read process at 2 years old. At about this age many children can learn the Alphabet, Letter Recognition, Letter Sounds, and begin to learn to read.
How often/how long should I work with my child and should I reward my child for reading?
I recommend to work with your child until your child does not want to learn anymore. Follow your child’s lead. I recommend about 15 minutes a day. I read/learn an average of 10-30 minutes a day with my children. I let them stop when they want to stop. They love to...
Why should I teach my child to read?
Teaching your child to read at a young age gives your child a head start. Also, teaching your child to read using the correct methods of learning to read is important. As a parent, I want my children to be the leaders of their class. I want to ensure my children not...
What do I do if my child refuses to Read or Learn?
Not all days are good days for your child to Read. Some days I notice that my sons are over-tired or over-active and I know that they will not concentrate well enough to Read. So on those days they Learn. I either show them an Instructional Reading Video, we work on...
What is the best time of day to teach a child to read?
It varies on the child and the family. Some children read best in the morning or afternoon, but for my children, we read in the evening. We read 40 minutes-1 hour before bedtime. We have a Reading Routine. Our reading routine is dinner, shower, Reading/Learning, and...
How do I teach the idea of “Uppercase” and “Lowercase” to a very young child?
I believe that Uppercase Letters and Lowercase Letters should not be referred to as big and small letters. I feel that big and small refers to the size the letter is written which is confusing to any child when they see a Lowercase Letter written larger than an...