Handout: Parents Are Teachers Too!

When do parents teach reading?

• When you read to your child, you are teaching reading.
• When you introduce your child to different kinds of books, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you help your child to put his thoughts on paper, YOU are teaching reading.
  
  
• When your child sees you reading for fun, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you take your child to the library, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you talk to your child about the stories that you are reading together, YOU are teaching reading.
  
  
• When you read books together that are about your child's experiences and about new experiences, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you provide a wide variety of books, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you have reading material in your home, YOU are teaching reading.
  
  
• When you listen to your child read, YOU are teaching reading.
• When you encourage your child to read to others (even if he just reads the pictures), YOU are teaching reading.
• When you praise your child when he reads, YOU are teaching reading.

You were your child's first teacher, keep up the good work! Reading can be done in any language. Ask your local librarian to help find books for you in the language you prefer.

Prepared by: Dave Page, Frontier College Family Literacy Coordinator