Reading Tips

Find the right books

A “good-fit” book is one your child can read on their own that is not too hard or easy. Pick books that balance comfort and challenge. They should mostly contain words your child knows, with a few opportunities for them to practise sounding out or looking at pictures to help them decode. Most importantly, the book should interest them and make them think!

Read out loud together

Reading out loud helps your child hear how words sound. It also shows them how written words match spoken words and helps them develop overall language skills.

Read the same book many times

Reading the same books with your child reinforces vocabulary, builds reading confidence, and satisfies their love of familiar, predictable stories.

Explore sounds and syllabics

Help your child master Inuktut sounds through playful practice. Break words into smaller parts, create silly songs about syllabics, and play alphabet games together. Consistent sound exploration is essential for reading success.

Be patient and focus on successes

Learning to read takes practice, and every child progresses at their own pace. Praise successes and use mistakes as an opportunity to grow. This will make your child feel good about reading and make them want to read more.

Point to words as you read

Use your finger or a fun object to highlight each word as you read. This helps your child see that words and sentences are read from left to right. It helps them break down sounds, blend, and recognize beginning, middle, and ending sounds. If your child says a word wrong, gently say the right word and ask them to try the sentence again and point as they read. This helps them learn new words without hurting their confidence.

Ask questions

Pause occasionally before, during, and after the story to ask your child about the characters and settings. Ask them to make personal connections or stop before the end of the book and what they think might happen based on what they’ve read. This helps your child understand the story better and encourages deeper thinking.

Model good reading practices

Read daily with your child. Whether your child reads to you or discovers a story’s meaning through discussion, these moments matter. Modelling the joy of reading helps your child discover the wonder of stories and the endless possibilities of reading.