Literacy ideas for Parents

Top Tips for Supporting Literacy

Read to your child each night. Even older children can benefit from hearing you read.
Let your child see you read.
Talk to your child about what you are reading yourself, or what you are reading with them.
Get them to tell you about what they are reading. Ask them questions about it. Try to get them to explain or give opinions on the book or character actions.
Find books that they will be interested in and want to read.
If a book is hard, you read it to them. If it is easy, get them to read it to you. If it is just right, read it together.
Discuss the pictures and tricky words that they may not have encountered before.

For spelling, get them to write simple texts – help them sound out words or remind them of spelling rules.
Look for patterns in words – "Look, MAT has 'at' in it, just like CAT". Even older students need to look for patterns and rules to apply to help spell more complicated words.
Play games that use spelling – Scrabble and Hangman.
Help them proof-read their writing. But don't write it for them!

Encourage them to write simple everyday texts.
Encourage them to talk about what they are going to write so that they can practise it before they put pen to paper.
Give them different ways to present their writing – using a computer / writing with coloured pencils / on nice paper or card.

Make it fun and encourage them in whatever you do – don't make it stressful for you or your child.

Many of these tips are adapted from the Australian Literacy Educators' Association website.
Reading activities for your child to use to improve their reading: Readingeggs.com
"So how do you do this read aloud thing?" A read-aloud lesson with Mem Fox
Take your child to the library. The following site suggests some excellent books you might like to look at: Children's Book Council of Australia.
Another good blog for ideas to support your child's literacy is: Trevor Cairney