It's just the beginning of a grand adventure

Welcome! I am so glad that you have decided to find out how we can work together to create or deepen your child's love for reading.

Let's begin with fluency (reading smoothly with expression). Whether your child is young and just beginning to work on decoding or has been struggling with this area, I have a few suggestions. The first thing is to break down the walls of fear -- this only creates a barrier to enjoyment, and they will resist.

I use humor. Make them LAUGH...show them that books are FUN.

Mo Willems' books are the epitome of fun and laughter. I begin by reading the Gerald and Piggie books aloud to them...you will find that it is contagious and they will begin reading them with you.

A few tips as you are reading them that you can point out:

• The speech bubbles are color coded to match the character (it helps when you are doing "voices" for the characters)
• Watch the characters body language for clues to how they are feeling (thus, their voices will reflect it)
• Facial expressions will also signal how to express the language.
• Font will change size, shape, and color -- voices will get louder, softer
• He repeats phrases -- help your child recognize the repeated words...it will help with sight vocabulary
• Read the blurb on the back of the book -- it prepares you for what the adventure will be

As you point this out, you will notice it happens in all the Gerald and Piggie books...your child will have a confidence knowing the patterns are predictable, although the words and plots change.

Note: With older children, I have them read and prepare to read with a younger child. They will practice and get good with reading fluently, and then "teach" the younger child what you pointed out to them.

These books may seem extremely simple, but fluency isn't about simply saying the words. They need to understand that when they are reading words, they are expressing character's words...that's the point here.

We will take a look at another series next time...any questions or feedback? I look forward to establishing some great reading bonds soon!