Support your child's English Development!
What You Can Do To Support Literacy in both English and your Native language at Home
- Organize a bookshelf for your child’s collection. A sturdy bookshelf located in an area accessible to your child is ideal. This way, he/she can reach books and use them without asking your permission. Having a special place for his/her books will demonstrate to your child that books are valuable.
- Set up a writing area for your child. Having all of his/her materials in one accessible spot will encourage your child to write. Having a special writing box or even a writing table or desk will help your child to see writing as an important activity.
- Talk together about things that interest your child. Ask genuine questions, ones to which you do not already know the answer. Ask questions that help children think about why and how and not just what. When you talk, be sure to listen to your child’s response and build upon what he has to say.
- Introduce new vocabulary words when you talk with your child. When you use a new word, make sure to explain its meaning to your child and encourage your child to ask when she does not know the meaning of a word.
- Continue your daily read-aloud routine. Continue the routine that you established earlier in your child’s life. Reading at the same time each day and in the same comfortable place, such as in bed or on the couch, make read-aloud a time to anticipate.
- Point to the words when you read aloud. You need not do this for every page but pointing to the words in the book’s title, or to the words of a repeated phrase in a picture book, is a good idea. When you point to the words, you show your child that there is a correspondence between spoken and written words and that print goes from left to right.
- Listen to your child "read." By the end of kindergarten, most children will be able to "read" some very easy books aloud by relying mostly on the pictures and their memory of the story. Make sure to set aside some of your read-aloud time to listen to your child read as soon as he is ready. Avoid pushing your child to do this until he/she shows interest, however.
- Incorporate literacy into outings. Visit your local library, bookmobile or bookstore to find new read-aloud ideas for your child. Many libraries feature free song and story hours that young children may enjoy.
- Be a reader and writer yourself. One of the most effective ways to help children become readers and writers is to show them through your own example that you value literacy and that reading and writing have useful purposes. Make sure that you have a variety of printed and writing materials in your house that you use them on a regular basis, and that you talk to your child about what you are doing when you read and write.
Northside Library
Free to join! Free wifi, free events, free books to borrow.
705 Rio Rd W, Charlottesville, VA 22901
Hours
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free to join! Free wifi, free events, free books to borrow.
705 Rio Rd W, Charlottesville, VA 22901
Hours
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm