Share the duties of reading aloud with your children. Alternate reading sentences, paragraphs, or pages given your child's own abilities.
Model the reading and writing act by using reading and writing daily for meaningful and authentic purposes. Point out times when you are writing grocery lists or letters to friends. Show that you can read for information or just plain fun.
Read a novel to your children on long trips in the car. If you tape record the books for your children to listen to, remember to tell them on tape when to turn the page.
Spend those long, restless periods of time in the restaurant waiting for your order to arrive or in the doctor's waiting room by reading a good book to your child.
As you read to the younger reader, leave out key words or phrases and have your child predict what would fit given the meaning of the story.
Set up neighborhood "Reading Circles" where parents and children get together to read and discuss book selections. Encourage all kinds of talk as children read, share, and explore meaning in books.
Set aside a specific time each day for the whole family to read silently.
Encourage your older children to read to the younger ones, but be careful not to force them to bear the whole burden themselves.
Encourage your child to select books by interest and not necessarily reading level. You will find they enjoy reading books by a particular arthor or in a specific genre like mystery or fantasy, or on a single topic. Be patient, their interest will soon broaden.
Discuss books with your children, seeking to know more about the book and how your child feels about it.
Encourage your child to write a journal or diary from the perspective of the main character in the book he or she is reading.
Have your children make hand puppets and act out books they have read.
Encourage your children to explore answers to questions that come up around the house by using informational books.
