An important accuracy strategy that good readers use to help gain meaning
from text is to use the pictures and ask “Do the words and picture match?”.
Pictures help to confirm that the words being read make sense. Illustrations can
provide hints to help students decode a word. Using the pictures is a necessary
strategy to help children prepare for other strategies they use as they become
more developed readers. Many times beginning readers feel they are “cheating”
when they look at the pictures. It is important to model the effectiveness of using
pictures to help decode words and to gain meaning so children feel comfortable
using this strategy and know it is “okay” to use the pictures when reading.
How can you help your child with this strategy at home?
1. Start with beginning reading books that only have a few words on the page.
The pictures give clear support for figuring out the meaning and the words.
2. Cover up the words on a page and have your child “read” the story to you by
“reading” the pictures. After your child tells you what happened on the
page, uncover the words and read the page. This supports the idea that
pictures can help tell the story.
3. When reading a picture book with your child, spend time modeling how you
look at pictures, maps, and graphs. Talk about your thinking so your child can
hear your thought process. Be sure to model how you stop while you are
reading to look at the pictures to help you gain information about what is
going on.
4. Reading pictures also includes graphs, maps, charts, and their captions. It is a
powerful nonfiction reading strategy that can be used to help support a child
when reading different textbooks. Remind your child to use this strategy when
studying for tests or when writing reports.
Thank you for your continued support at home!
· Written by: Allison Behne ©www.thedailycafe.com
· Ideas and strategies are taken from: The CAFE Book, written by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser
from text is to use the pictures and ask “Do the words and picture match?”.
Pictures help to confirm that the words being read make sense. Illustrations can
provide hints to help students decode a word. Using the pictures is a necessary
strategy to help children prepare for other strategies they use as they become
more developed readers. Many times beginning readers feel they are “cheating”
when they look at the pictures. It is important to model the effectiveness of using
pictures to help decode words and to gain meaning so children feel comfortable
using this strategy and know it is “okay” to use the pictures when reading.
How can you help your child with this strategy at home?
1. Start with beginning reading books that only have a few words on the page.
The pictures give clear support for figuring out the meaning and the words.
2. Cover up the words on a page and have your child “read” the story to you by
“reading” the pictures. After your child tells you what happened on the
page, uncover the words and read the page. This supports the idea that
pictures can help tell the story.
3. When reading a picture book with your child, spend time modeling how you
look at pictures, maps, and graphs. Talk about your thinking so your child can
hear your thought process. Be sure to model how you stop while you are
reading to look at the pictures to help you gain information about what is
going on.
4. Reading pictures also includes graphs, maps, charts, and their captions. It is a
powerful nonfiction reading strategy that can be used to help support a child
when reading different textbooks. Remind your child to use this strategy when
studying for tests or when writing reports.
Thank you for your continued support at home!
· Written by: Allison Behne ©www.thedailycafe.com
· Ideas and strategies are taken from: The CAFE Book, written by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser