Reading is a cumulative process.  As each school year passes, your child builds the knowledge and skills that are necessary for becoming a better reader.

     Reading with your child and helping him or her practice specific reading skills will dramatically improve your child’s ability to read.

     What follows are ideas for grade 1 reading comprehension activities that you can do with your child to build the skills he or she needs to become a good reader. As a parent, you can help your child want to learn in a way no one else can. That desire to learn is a key to your child's future academic success.  Try to incorporate any or all of the following grade 1 reading comprehension strategies at home.  For the following strategies, you can use your child’s favorite books, sign new ones out from the library, or purchase more for your home collection. 

How Can I Help My Grade 1 Child’s Reading Comprehension?

·        Have your child read a variety of texts such as: rhyming books, pattern books, graphic novels (similar to comics), and books from movies and television shows.

·        Have your child look at the cover of a book and make a prediction about the story.

·        Ask your child about the main idea of a story.

·        Have your child make personal connections to the story.

·        Have your child retell the story in the proper chronological sequence.

·        Read aloud stories to your child and ask your child what he or she visualized while you were reading.  Make sure your child includes good adjectives to describe his or her visualizations.

·        Teach your child about transition words that connect the story in order to create a time order sequence.

·         Have your child draw pictures to show his or her favorite part.

·         Introduce your child to chapter headings and titles.

·         Have your child identify the character, plot and setting of a story.