Reading FAQs
Even with all of this information, you may still have questions! Here are some of the most common questions other families have. For more information, see the resources on page 28. 1. My child doesn’t like to read. What should I do? Many children go through periods of both liking and disliking reading. To help your child get excited about books, try finding stories and texts about things he or she loves—space travel, music, sports, animals, you name it! It’s fine if your child chooses engaging books that are a bit above or below his or her reading level. Reading through websites, role-playing with shopping lists, and sending text messages are also great ways to promote reading every day. Literacy comes in many forms and doesn’t have to be intimidating or boring! 2. My child only wants to read the same book over and over. Is that okay? Yes! In fact, it’s great. Rereading means your child has found a book that makes him or her excited about reading, which is an important step to becoming a lifelong reader. Try finding books about similar things to the one he or she has fallen in love with, and see if those spark an interest. If not, don’t worry too much. Any reading counts as reading, and rereading offers your child the chance to experience the same story from multiple angles, ultimately building a better understanding of the text!
3. I think my child might be having trouble reading. How can I know for sure, and what can I do about it?
It’s normal for children to fall a little behind in reading, just as it’s normal for them to sometimes work a little ahead. However, if your child hesitates often while reading aloud, takes a long time to follow written directions, or frequently guesses at how words are spelled without paying attention to the way they sound, it’s a good idea to reach out to your child’s teacher. If your child does have reading difficulties, ask the teacher what strategies are being used in school to support your child, and what you can do at home to help. Always encourage your child, spend as much time reading with him or her as possible, and praise honest efforts. Your child’s teacher may recommend an in-school reading specialist whose support will get your child back on track. 4. How much should my child be reading each night? In second grade, children should be independently reading for around 20–30 minutes each day outside of school. Those 20–30 minutes may be spent diving into one book or reading several smaller texts.
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Family Guide to Literacy | Grade 2
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