It can be frustrating for children to learn new words and grasp their correct pronunciation, but with your help, learning new words will be easy and fun. First, read aloud to your students every day so they can hear the new words being pronounced correctly. Reading aloud will improve your students' listening, vocabulary, and comprehension skills while showing them that reading is fun.

Ask children to take turns reading aloud to the class. You can help them decipher words that they can't pronounce and don't understand the meaning of by working as a team. Teach phonics in context by helping students break down hard-to-say words and by running your finger underneath the words and letting students see the printed words in I Can Read books, which will allow them to discover the connection between letters and sounds.

I Can Read books use familiar vocabulary to help young readers visualize the story they're reading. Have your students reread the same stories to gain fluency so they won't stumble over difficult phrases next time.

You can also use I Can Read phonics boxes to help children pronounce difficult words. Based on the latest research about how children learn to read, this collection of simple stories features repeated examples of vowel sounds and common sight words that are easy for children to sound out.

It's never too early to start reading I Can Read books with your children. Even infants benefit from listening to their parents read aloud. Infants learn the sounds, patterns, and rhythms of language as they listen to your voice and watch your expressions. So keep those bedtime stories coming!

While we do suggest that parents use the simple text and pictures of the I Can Read series to read to their children during infancy, here's a basic guideline to help you determine which books are age-appropriate for young readers. Remember, some readers may need more reading practice than others and may not be at the same I Can Read levels as their peers. With your dedicated help, your children are sure to overcome obstacles in no time and advance to the next level with accuracy and confidence.

ICR Reading Level Guide
My First: Shared Reading—Ages 3-5
Level 1: Beginning Reading—Ages 4-8
Level 2: Reading with Help—Ages 4-8
Level 3: Reading Alone—Ages 4-8

You can help other parents at your library by reminding them to motivate their children to read. The most powerful way parents can motivate their children to read books in their free time is to let them know that books are exciting and that a whole world of adventures is waiting for them there. Parents should remember to show their children just how wonderful books and reading are by leading by example. The library is the perfect place to start! Young children will follow their parents' lead if Mom and Dad are enthusiastic about reading and show them how important reading is.

A good place for parents to start is to fill their home with a variety of reading materials. Parents should send their children a message that not only is reading fun, it's part of everyday life. Parents can use newspapers, picture books, magazines, comics, and even the internet to show their children that reading is everywhere and comes in many different fun forms. Let children pick reading materials that feature topics that interest them. With more than 200 titles, I Can Read features books from all genres that are sure to pique their children's interest. The easily recognizable words in I Can Read books excite children, building on their confidence and success as they tackle learning to read.