Challenge Your Children

     As you and your children begin to enjoy your reading time together, challenge your children.  Select read-alouds that exceed your children's reading level.  Stretch their vocabulary and comprehension by reading them books that if they tried to read independently, would be on their frustrational level.
     Select high quality books.  Go to your local library for ideas about good children's literature.  Ask your children's teachers for help.  Select stories that have a theme or will relate to other stories you have read.
     As always, read with expression and fluency.  Stop to discuss vocabulary or sections of the story.  Stop and re-read a section if your children desire.  Discuss characters and the plot.  Ask questions and expect responses.  Discussion of the book before reading, during reading and after reading is important to promote reading comprehension ability in children.
     While you are reading the story, you want your children to experience the flow of the story.  Stopping and discussing the story, plot, or vocabulary sometimes breaks concentration, but you can always re-read parts of the book to continue with the flow of the story.
     Remember you are not just enjoying the story; you are doing so much more.  You are building your children's enthusiasm towards the written word.  "Reading aloud to children who are lagging behind their peers can have added benefits" to enhancing their reading skills. (p. 59 Strategies for Reading)  It is just as important and beneficial to your family to read to your children whether they are lagging behind or not.
     While reading be flexible.  Enjoy your children.  Enjoy reading together.  Remember you are modeling a love of reading!