PHONICS AND COMPREHENSION
Reading is an exciting time in the early school years. Your child will continue to decode words while they work toward fluency. Fluency is reading smoothly. They will also be building their vocabulary and working to comprehend the sentences they read.
Reading is not a natural skill, it must be taught.
Children who are having difficulty with early reading rarely “grow out of it,” without explicit and direct reading instruction. Trust your instincts that your child may need help, and reach out for support.
The Library’s Ready to Read team can help you learn research-based reading techniques so you can support your child become a strong reader. To schedule a free individual or group training session, please complete this easy form or call 419.259.5253.
Build vocabulary: Children with larger vocabularies more easily understand the words they read.
- Keep reading together: Even as your child learns to read, it is important to continue reading to your child to help them learn new words and make reading fun.
- Before reading a new book, help your child connect the new book to things they already know, which will build their vocabulary. “This story is about dogs. What do you know about dogs? What do you think we might read about?”
- Read a variety of stories and nonfiction books to build your child’s vocabulary. Talk about the new ideas and words in the books to increase their vocabulary. Pick subjects that interest them!
Comprehension: putting it all together: When your child can decode and has built a strong vocabulary, the sentences they read start to mean something. To help your child comprehend what they are reading, you can enjoy active reading together.
Active reading is the difference between simply turning pages and talking about what’s happening on the book’s pages. Try asking questions, such as:
- “Who was the story about? How would you describe the characters? Would you want to be friends with this character?”
- “Where did the story take place? When?”
- “What happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story?”
- “What problem did the characters face? How did they solve their problem?”
- “What did you like, or not like about this book?”
Individual training: The Library’s Ready to Read team can help you learn research-based reading techniques so you can support your child become a strong reader. You will get a free kit with books and literacy materials.
Call 419.259.5253 for help.
Get a free Library card! Make sure you have lots of books for reading to and with your child. Your Library card allows you to check out unlimited books and we don’t charge fees if you return your books late. Get a card today.
Let us get a stack of books for you. We can pick books for you! Tell us what topic you’d like and we’ll get a stack that you can pick up at your preferred location. Request books to read to your child.
Try audiobooks. Experiencing reading in new ways can help build decoding and comprehension skills. Download the Libby and hoopla apps to your smartphone or tablet. Enjoy hundreds of free children’s audiobooks read and build fluency at the same time.
Come learn at the Library. Understanding the world around them helps children make sense of the words they are reading. Check our calendar weekly and sort by your child’s age group and/or your preferred location to find programs that will spark their learning.
Come play at the Library. All of our locations have play spaces just for children, including a huge children’s space at Main Library. These spaces are also a great place for you to get support from our librarians while meeting other parents and caregivers. Plan a trip today.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(W) May 8 | 1 — 2 p.m. | Washington
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(Th) May 9 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Sanger
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(Tu) May 14 | 6 — 7 p.m. | Online Programs
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(Tu) May 21 | 6 — 7 p.m. | King Road
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(Th) May 23 | noon — 1 p.m. | Online Programs
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(Tu) June 4 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Mott
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(Th) June 13 | 2 — 3 p.m. | West Toledo
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(M) June 17 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Waterville
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(F) June 21 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Waterville
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(M) June 24 | 6 — 7 p.m. | Heatherdowns
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(Tu) June 25 | 6 — 7 p.m. | Kent
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(W) July 3 | noon — 1 p.m. | Online Programs
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(M) July 8 | 1 — 2 p.m. | Sylvania
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(W) July 10 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Holland
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(Th) July 11 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Birmingham
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(W) July 17 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Online Programs
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(W) July 17 | 1 — 2 p.m. | Sanger
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Countdown to Kindergarten
(Th) July 18 | 6 — 7 p.m. | Oregon
Get ready for Kindergarten with the Library at this fun, hands on event.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(Th) August 1 | 6 — 7 p.m. | Sanger
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(M) August 5 | 4 — 5 p.m. | Locke
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
Early Literacy Parent/Caregiver Training
(Tu) August 6 | 10 — 11 a.m. | Online Programs
Learn tips and tricks to incorporate early literacy practices into your daily life for your child ages 0-4.
Helping your K-3 Reader
(F) August 16 | noon — 1 p.m. | Online Programs
Let us support you and your K-3 child on their reading journey. Participating caregivers will receive a Ready to Read K-3 toolkit, filled with tools and activities to help strengthen reading skills.
