One-to-one Correspondense (Pointing at each word as it is read.)
Point at unfamiliar words - You can read while the child points to the words. Choose books with a small amount of big words on each page. Only read what the child points at.
Point at familiar words - When reading the take-home books students should be pointing at each word. Swizzle sticks make fun "pointers."
Letter Recognition
Flashcards - include any letters the child already recognizes and two or three they don't. As they learn those two or three you can add two or three more.
Letter search - look for letters on street signs, in magazines, in newspapers, or on cereal packages.
Letter of the day - decide on a letter for the day and look for that letter everywhere you go.
Letter formation
Finger writing - use a finger to write numbers or letters in pudding, shaving cream, sidewalk chalk, or cornmeal. Please use the number and letter formation guide sent home at the beginning of the year.
Trace letters - either you write them or the child finds them in print, then they trace the letters using the proper formation.
Rhyming
Rhyming Books - Read books with rhymes with your child. Have them fill in the rhyming word. Example: The cat in the ___.
Rhyme with the alphabet - Decide on a word that you would like to rhyme with, then use the alphabet to make the rhyming words. Example: at - b=bat, c=cat, d=dat, f=fat, and so on until you get to z=zat. Nonsense words are okay. Be careful of those rhyming words inappropriate for kindergarten ears.
Sounds
Missing sounds - Say three sounds, then leave one out and see if they can identify the missing sound - first, middle, or last.
In words - Say a word and see if they can identify the first sound in the word.
Comprehension
Questioning - encourage your child to ask questions before, during, and after you read together. This helps them develop thinking skills such as predicting and clarifying.
Questions - Ask your child questions before, during, and after you read with them. Try to ask questions that require more than yes or no. Examples: What do you think the princess will do? How does the dragon feel? What was your favorite part of the story?