By the end of Kindergarten your child should have acquired many phonemic awareness and alphabetic principle skills. They should be able to read the letters of the alphabet rapidly, segment words into all the sounds, read short words consisting of consonant - vowel - consonant combinations and know basic sight words. They may be able to read easy books consisting short sentences. Additionally your child should be able to write all the letters and compose short sentences.Here are some sights that will help your child acquire and practice these skills:

By the end of first grade your child should be reading books. In one minute, your child should be able to read grade level material at a rate of 40 words per minute. To help them achieve this goal, parents can have students read appropriate level books to them. Reading the same book over and over is helpful. Additionally, to help increase fluency parents can read books aloud to their children. Other strategies to increase fluency include choral reading, or reading at the same time as your child which is called echo reading. For more detailed information on these methods click below :

Fluency Building Strategies

Being able to read sight words correctly is also important. To help your child practice sight words click below:

Sight Word Practice

Sight Word Phrase Practice

Dolch Word Activities

By the end of second grade your child will be reading longer and more complicated text and should be understanding it well. They will take PSSA test in third grade which will require them to read extended passage and answer multiple choice and constructed response questions. They are expected to read 90 words per minute on grade level passages. Ways to improve your child's reading fluency include having your child read appropriate level books to you. Reading the same book over and over is helpful. Additionally, to help increase fluency, parents can read books aloud to their children. Other strategies to increase fluency include choral reading, or reading at the same time as your child which is called echo reading. For more detailed information on these methods click below :

Fluency Building Strategies

Practicing sight words is still helpful. Use the links above for sight word activities.

Toward the end of second grade your child will be able to access Study Island to help prepare them for the PSSA test. To access Study Island click below:

Study Island