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Paired Reading - A Guide for Parents
Paired Reading means reading aloud with your child. It is a good way for parents to help their children and is popular with the children. Studies all over the world have shown that Paired Reading works well and many children have taken part with good results
How to Do it
Choosing Books
In Paired Reading the children choose the books they want to read. Do not worry if they choose a book that seems too easy or too difficult, they will soon learn to pick suitable books. Any book that catches your child's interest is a good choice. Books may come from home, school or the local library. If your child gets tired of a particular book and wants to change it, you should let him do so. After all, that is what adults do when they read for pleasure. Make sure that your child has a wide choice of exciting books. Remember any book the child chooses is suitable. Comics, newspapers and magazines are fine.
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Time
Try to read with your child for 10 to 15 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Do not do more than this unless your child is very keen. Do not choose a time to read when your child really wants to do something else, for example, in the middle of a favourite TV programme.
Place
You will need a quiet place. Your child will not be able to concentrate if there is a lot of coming and going or if the TV is on. Sit comfortably and close to your child.
Reading Together
You and your child both read the words out loud together at the same speed. When you get to a word your child cannot read or gets wrong, just read the word for .him and get him to repeat it. Make sure your child points at each word as he reads. This way he will not lose his place and it helps you to read along at the right speed.
Reading Alone
When your child thinks he can manage to read part of the story on his own he should tap the table or squeeze your arm. At this signal you stop reading and let the child read on by themselves. When your child makes a mistake or gets stuck just tell him the word, get him to repeat it and start reading together again.
Mistakes
Don't pay too much attention to mistakes, everyone makes them! Don't get angry and upset as this will just put your child off reading. Don't try to make your child sound out and spell the word, just tell him what the word is and get him to repeat it. The whole point of Paired Reading is to encourage reading stories with as few interruptions as possible.
Do praise your child often.
Talking
Every now and again, at the end of a page or a short section of the book, stop and talk about the story. Ask your child what he thinks is going to happen next. Show an interest in the story.
Main Points
Let your child choose the book.Let him point to the words. Read at the child's speed.
If your child makes a mistake, say the word for him.
Use lots of praise and make reading fun. If you do not seem to enjoy reading, neither will your child.
Discuss the story with your child.