Top Tips for Supporting Literacy
Reading
- 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.
Spelling
- 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!
Writing
- 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.
Most Important
Make it fun and encourage them in whatever you do – don't make it stressful for you or your child.
Helpful Websites
- 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