SIR.

ParentGuide 3/27/03 11:48 AM Page 2

STEP INTO READING

®

Learning to Read, Step by Step!

A Parents Guide
to Reading with Your Child!
www.stepintoreading.com
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Dear Parents,
As a teacher for twelve years and a Reading Recovery
teacher for five of those years, I know how important
learning to read is in your child’s life. Many parents ask
the question: “How can I help?” The Step into Reading
program is the answer. This program is designed so that
parents can support the teacher and the reading lessons
their child receives at school. Each step has grade and skill
guidelines so that you can easily pick appropriate books
for your child, helping to gradually give your child more
challenging selections as they gain more skills. Unlike
other beginning reader series, Step into Reading offers a
variety of subjects, including nonfiction titles that fit
directly into the curriculum, offering a way to integrate
reading with science, social studies, and even math. The
Step into Reading line also offers text with lovable popu-
lar characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, and
Bob the Builder to make even your reluctant readers more
excited about reading.

We all know that reading should be an enjoyable experi-

ence. With engaging topics and fun characters, reading to
and with your child will not only demonstrate what “good
reading” should sound like, but will encourage your child
to be a l ifelong reader. I am sure you will find the Step
into Reading program a wonderful tool to help your child
during this exciting time as they are learning to read.
Sincerely,

Denise Barbazette
Reading Recovery Certified
First-Grade Teacher
Manassas, Virginia
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Tips for Reading with Your Child

Keep reading a fun

and positive experience!
Pick books that are easy for your child to read. This will be good
practice and build confidence.

Make sure to turn off the TV and radio when reading with your child.

Always sit with your child while they read

a book for the first time because they
will need help with difficult words.

Have your child read books

multiple times to help them
with fluency and comprehension.

Try to make any connections

to other books and real-life
experiences.

Have your child write as well

as read. They need to know
that reading is just language
written down.

You should read harder books

to your child and model good
reading techniques.

Try to find lots of different kinds

of books for your child to
experience—fiction, nonfiction,
poetry, mysteries, humorous
books, and so on.

Keep a journal for your child

to track his or her reading
accomplishments.
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STEP INTO READING ST

®

STEP
Ready to Read Preschool–Kindergarten Rea

Does your child know the alphabet? Is your child eager to

begin reading? Step 1 is the perfect first step!
Big Type and Easy Words • Rhyme and Rhythm • Picture Clues

This step has big type

to help your child
learn the early reading
strategies of one-to-
one matching and
directionality. It also
has rhythm and rhyme
to help with phonemic
awareness. Your child
Me Too Woody!

will enjoy looking

at the pictures as well
as using them to learn
unknown words.

Reading Activity Tip!

You will want to encourage your child to
read books over and over. When there is
STEP

dialogue in the text, encourage your child to

read with expression and to use different
voices for each character. This will help you
monitor their understanding of the story.
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NG STEP INTO READING

® ®

STEP
arten Reading with Help Preschool–Grade 1

Does your child recognize familiar words on sight and

sound out new words with help? Step 2 is just right.
Basic Vocabulary • Short Sentences • Simple Stories

This step has big type

and good spacing to
help early readers with
one-to-one matching.
It has basic vocabulary
and short sentences.
The stories are simple
and interesting. In this
level, there are many
words that would be
recognizable to the
reader and a few new
words for them to
figure out. Always
encourage your child
to use picture clues
and beginning sounds
when they come
across an unknown Reading Activity Tip!
word. It is also very Work on teaching your child
to read and write their name and
important for them to other important words (mom,
STEP

think about what dad, dog, cat, etc.). Encourage

your child to find these words in
would make sense in each Step into Reading book you
the context of the story. read together.
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STEP INTO READING ST

®

STEP
Reading on Your Own Grades 1–3

Is your child comfortable tackling new words? Does your

child like to read on his or her own? It’s time for Step 3.
Engaging Characters • Easy-to-Follow Plots • Popular Topics

This step has engaging

characters, easy-to-
follow plots, and
popular topics. All of
these things keep
children excited about
learning to read. Some
of the books in this
step introduce simple
chapters that are very
motivating for young
readers. The well-known
and lovable characters
in this step are just the
thing to keep thereader
wanting more.

Reading Activity Tip!

Even though your child may be able to read the book silently to
themselves, you will want them to read it out loud to practice their
STEP

pronunciation.When they encounter unknown words, remind them

to think about what makes sense in the context of the story.
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NG STEP INTO READING

® ®

STEP
Reading Paragraphs Grades 2–3

your Does your child read simple sentences with confidence?

p 3. Newly independent readers are ready for Step 4.
Challenging Vocabulary • Short Paragraphs • Exciting Fiction
and Nonfiction

This step has more

challenging vocabulary
and exciting stories.
The books have
popular characters
doing interesting
things. Your child
will be introduced
to paragraphs in
this step, which helps
readers gain the
confidence to tackle
more print on the page.

Reading Activity Tip!

Children are now able to predict what they are going to read. Have
your child look at the front cover and write down predictions about
STEP

the book. Present it as a challenge to see how close they come to

the plot of the story.
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STEP INTO READING

®

STEP
Ready for Chapters Grades 2–4

Is your child ready to take the plunge into chapters?

Does your child still like books with colorful pictures?
Step 5 is just right for them.
Chapters • Long Paragraphs• Full-Color Art

Children can’t wait

to get into chapter
books! This step has
very exciting and
challenging books in
which your child
will read longer
paragraphs. Children
at this step are able
to read for longer
amounts of time, so
these chapter books
have pictures that
help your child
remember information
about the story as
they read. These
longer books have Reading Activity Tip!
more detailed plots At this step, you still want to
and more interesting make sure your child finds reading
enjoyable.Your child can choose
characters that
STEP

a character in the book that is

most like themselves and write
children love to about why they are alike or who
read about. they feel would be a good friend.
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NG
®
Books I Have Read!

Use this page to keep

a log of the books you and your
child have read together!
Date Book Title
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Activities

Enjoy these activity suggestions created for Read

you to share with your developing reader. ch

The Pup Speaks Up

STEP

This book has fun sounds

in it. Have your child read all of
the sound words while you
read the other words.You can
relate the sound to a farm by
drawing pictures of farm ani-
mals.Then draw speech bubbles
and write the sounds these
animals make.

Piglet Feels Small

STEP

While reading this book, make

sure to point to the words as
you say them.Then, following
your example, let your child
point them out while you read.
With your child, act out some
of the things that Piglet does.
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Activities

ted for Read each book a few times with your

eader. child before doing any activities.

Cinderella’s Countdown
STEP

to the Ball

This book is great for practicing

counting and talking about num-
bers.You will want to have your
child count out loud all of the
objects on each page.You might
also want to have them count
things like their fingers, ears, eyes,
or family members, etc.

I Like Bugs
STEP

This book lends itself to a lot of

great activities.You can point out
all of the color words, or show
them the word “bugs” and have
them try to find it on each page.
You can also make word cards for
“I,” “like,” and “bugs.” Mix up the
card and have your child put them
in order to make the sentence
“I like bugs.”
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Activities

Mouse’s Hide-and-
STEP

Seek Words

This book has a lot of rhymes

in it, so read part of the
sentence and let your child
fill in the rhyme.

The Berenstain Bears

by the Sea
STEP

A great activity is to reread

the book with your child, but
let your child say the second
half of each rhyme.
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Activities

Surprise for a Princess

STEP

After you read this book with

your child, have them draw
a picture about their birthday
and then you write a sentence
about their picture.You might
also want to find other Disney
Princess books and read them.
Then talk about how the stories
are different or similar.
STEP

Go, Stitch, Go!

After reading this book have

your child fold a piece of
paper into fourths and then
make a picture about four
parts of the story in the right
order. Have your child retell
the story using their pictures.
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Activities

Silly Sara
STEP

After reading this book have

your child find all of the “-at”
patterned words in the book.
You might want to also point
out the bubble-gum page and
show them the “big,” “bigger,”
and “biggest” pattern.
STEP

Quick, Quack, Quick!

After reading this story, have

your child fold a piece of paper
into fourths and have them
draw four pictures from the
story in the right order.You
and your child can then write
a sentence for each picture.
Then have your child retell
the story in their own words.
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Activities

Tiger Is a Scaredy Cat

STEP

After reading this book, fold a

piece of paper in half. Have your
child draw a picture of when they
were scared on one half and then
a picture of when they were brave
on the other half. Then you can
work together to write a sentence
for each picture. It is always
important to make a text-to-life
connection when you can.

Barbie:
STEP

A Day at the Fair

Have your child write about

a time that they went to the
fair. If not applicable, have
them write about a time
that they were afraid to do
something, but then found
the courage to do it.
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Activities

Arthur, Clean
STEP

Your Room!

Have your child match up the

stickers with the blue words in
the book. Provide your child
with paper to write their own
story using the stickers in the
book.Then have them write a
sentence or two for each page.

Beans Baker,
STEP

Number Five

Have your child decide which

character would be a good
friend to have. Have your child
talk about the qualities that
character has.Then they can
write a letter to that character
about something that happened
in the book or in their life.
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Activities

Barbie.com:
STEP

Ballet Buddies

Have your child either pick

which character was most like
themselves or which one they
would like to be friends with.
Have them write about it.You
could also have your child write
a story about who they would
visit if they had a computer like
the one in the book.

Arthur’s Reading Race

STEP

Have your child match up the

stickers with the blue words in
the book. Provide your child with
paper to write their own story
using the stickers in the book.
Then have them write a sentence
or two for each page.
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Activities

Tentacles! Tales of
STEP

the Giant Squid

Have your child write facts that

they learned about the giant
squid and make a 3-D scene of
what they think the squid’s
habitat looks like.Your child
can make the diorama with a
shoebox.

Lewis and Clark:

STEP

A Prairie Dog for the

President
Have your child draw a map of
the trail Lewis and Clark took
across the West.They can make
a big picture of what they think
the West looked like when
Lewis and Clark were on their
expedition.Your child can write
about the picture or create a
diary of the expedition as if they
were one of the guides.
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Step into Reading Book Checklist

I have read

Bear Hugs
Hot Dog
STEP

Too Many Dogs

Wheels!
Happy Alphabet!

I Love You, Mama!

P. J. Funnybunny Camps Out
STEP

The Teeny Tiny Women

Five Silly Fishermen
My Loose Tooth

Dinosaur Days
Dolphins!
STEP

Norma Jean, Jumping Bean

The Parakeet Girl
The Best Mistake Ever!

Spooky America
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares
STEP

No Tooth, No Quarter!
Titanic: Lost . . . and Found
Joan of Arc

Raptor Pack
STEP

Barry the Bravest Saint Bernard

Jumbo

Available wherever books are sold!

SIR.ParentGuide 3/27/03 11:47 AM Page 1

Learning to Read, Step by Step! S

Step into Reading is a unique leveled reader series that offers books
at five carefully developed skill levels. This program offers a wide
variety of fiction and nonfiction books. We have chosen topics of
interest and colorful illustrations to make learning to read fun and
exciting. Each step provides new challenges for young readers to
master without being too difficult. The program is designed to give
every child a successful reading experience. The grade levels are only
guidelines—children can progress through the steps at their own
speed, developing confidence and pride in their reading.

Newly illustrated front and back Ultimate combination of

covers present a hot and unique original stories, nonfiction, and
look for a leveled reader program favorite licensed characters,
including:
Bright, colorful bull’s-eyes and
color-coded spines alert you of • Arthur
the reading level
• Barbie
Attention-grabbing back covers • Berenstain Bears
include concise copy to educate you
about the book and program • Disney
• Dragon Tales
Fun activities on the inside
front cover allow your child to • Little Critter
personalize the book
• Richard Scarry
Step into Reading is the “Leveled • Sesame Street
Reader Leader” with steps that
include Math Readers, Phonics • Thomas the Tank Engine
Readers, and stickers

© 2003 Gullane (Thomas) LLC © Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2003 Marc Brown © 2003 Berenstain Enterprises, Inc.
© 2003 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. © Richard Scarry Corporation