Paired Reading

Parents Make a Difference

Easy Steps to follow: 1. Have your child select a book from home or the library. 2. Sit in a comfortable place where you can both see the book easily. 3. Decide on a quiet signal to be used by the child when he feels he is ready to read alone. 4. Decide who will point to each word. (Encourage your child to do the pointing.) You and your child read aloud together. Synchronization is important. Pace yourself to your child's speed. 5. Read every word together as the child points. 6. If your child makes an error, say the word correctly being sure your child repeats the word correctly while pointing to it. 7. Continue reading together until your child signals to read alone. You stop reading immediately and praise your child for signaling. 8. Your child continues reading on her/his own until there is a pause for more than 5 seconds on a word, or until s/he makes an error. 9. When a 5 second pause or error occurs, say the word correctly, being sure your child repeats the word correctly while pointing to it. 10. Continue reading aloud together until your child signals to read alone. 11. Continue "Paired Reading" for at least 5 minutes and gradually increase the time to 15 minutes if your child chooses to do so.