1st Grade Parents- Reading

As you begin to think about your child starting 1st grade you need to know what they will be learning this year!  After all how can you help your child succeed if you don't know what their learning objectives are!

This year your child will be learning how to read.  Some students will begin the year with a good understanding of print and can already read sentences.  Some students may begin the year without knowing all the letters and sounds.  Either way there are things you can do as a parent to help your child be successful this year!  It is a Washington Elementary expectation that your child read for 10 minutes each night 80% of the month.  No matter what level your child is at by doing this your child will develop their reading skills and be more successful.

Parents should create an environment at home that is free of distractions (yes, that means turning the TV and/or video games off) where your child can focus on reading and doing homework.  By setting routines and expectations for homework and reading early your child will get into a routine of how and when to study, do homework, and read!  Of course, we understand that sometimes families have plans or something comes up and there is no time for school work, which is why our expectation is 80% and not 100%.  Please keep in mind that parents who do not make sure their child is reading each night but continue to report that their child is reading are only hurting their child's education.  Teachers know who is really reading and who is only pretending.  Those students who read each night end the year far above those students who did nothing or little at home.

So GO and READ with your child!!  Let your child read to you and let your child listen to you read!  Children who listen to fluent reading become more fluent themselves!  Set an example and let your child see YOU reading your own book for fun!  Talk about the books your family reads and ask each other questions about the story to check for understanding!