Listening and Learning From kindergarten through third grade,
kids' ability to read grows by leaps and bounds. Although
teachers provide lots of help, parents continue to play a role
in their child's reading A child first learning to read gets
more information from listening to books than from reading them
independently. This is especially true of vocabulary - your
child will learn more about what words mean by hearing books
read aloud and discussing words with you than from reading on
his or her own. And even as a child's reading skills improve,
reading aloud together can foster a sense of closeness and help
improve vocabulary and reading skills. Encouraging kids to talk
about characters or share reactions to books reinforces the
connection between books and their own lives. You also show that
you take their reading seriously and care about what they read.
Positive, loving attention from you helps your child feel safe,
accomplished, Your Growing Reader Here's how reading usually
progresses from kindergarten