We have been reading to both of our children every night for about 20 minutes from the time they were 1 year old, our kids are used to the routine. Our daughter who is PDD has not been successful yet on reading fluently, she is in 3rd grade in a typical classroom and being pulled for special Ed about 25% of her day. She can read several site words but still struggles to read a sentence.

For Christmas this year I bought the book The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis thinking I would read a chapter each night instead of the same old children’s books we have been reading for the past 9 years. This is a huge book with no pictures but very vivid descriptions that keep the kids interested. The other night I was reading a chapter to our daughter with PDD and she kept asking “where is that part?” I had no idea she was trying to follow along!

Last night she wanted to go back to some of the books she was used to. Her homework every night is to practice reading for 20 minutes each night since we are getting back to the school routine I thought it was a good idea. She usually picks out a book for her to read (very easy one and two word pages) and one for me to read (normal picture book with more words). She said to me last night “I can read Henry and Mudge mom.” I was amazed she really increased her fluency from following along while I read the Chronicles of Narnia. We all are enjoying this book and because there are no pictures to look at she is trying to look for the words. Try getting a fun chapter book for you and your PDD child to enjoy you’ll be amazed!

The following is a list of tips that have helped us get to where we are today.

:: Make a habit of reading to your child for 20 minutes each night
:: Play site word games Bingo/Hangman
:: Skip read when your child does have the ability to read site words. You read a word then your child reads the next.
:: Read the same books over and over eventually your child will memorize them and be able to read when they do become more fluent.
:: Read picture word books, we have a couple Dora Explorer books that use pictures in place of certain words through out the book.
:: Read the newspaper or kids magazines with them, get them to enjoy reading in everyday settings.
:: Point out road signs while driving.
:: Get a really interesting chapter book with out pictures, it’s amazing how they want to follow along since there are no pictures to look at.