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Is Your Child Ready for the New School Year? 5 Reading Skills to Check at Home Before school starts, ask yourself: 1. Can my child read words independently? 2. Can my child read familiar words automatically, or do they need to sound out every word? 3. Can my child read a short passage and tell me what it was about? 4. Can my child answer questions about what they read? 5. Does my child feel confident when reading? Being “ready” for school doesn’t mean your child needs to be p

Letter sounds and phonics: Can your child connect letters to their sounds? Decoding: Can they sound out unfamiliar words instead of guessing? Fluency: Can they read accurately and smoothly? Sight words: Do they recognize frequently used words automatically? Comprehension: Can they explain what they read and answer questions? Overall reading development: Are there particular skills that are strong or need additional instruction? For example: If your child frequently guesses at

What are short vowel sounds? a as in cat e as in bed i as in pig o as in hot u as in sun Short vowel sounds are small pieces in phonics, but they play a big role in early reading. Children need to hear and identify the vowel sound to a letter before they can consistently connect that sound to the larger word. Hear it → Identify it → Read it → Use it independently When supporting your child as they develop their decoding strategies, you may begin to wonder if your child needs

Reading with your child is about more than finishing a book. Reading builds more than reading skills Reading together can support: vocabulary comprehension listening skills background knowledge confidence conversation parent-child connection Many parents ask:“What if we don’t have 30 minutes to read?” You don’t need a perfect reading routine to make reading meaningful. Ten focused minutes can be more valuable than an unrealistic routine that becomes stressful for the entire f