An important tip I wanted to mention is that you need to find reading that is easy for the child to read on his or her own.  It can challenge them slightly but it's imperative that they find a book they enjoy to read.  Always encourage a child to find a book that they are interested in and use the 5 finger rule.

The five finger rule is when you have the child read a page of the book.  They must read and mark down how many times they can not read a word on that page.  If they can not read five words on a page then the book may be challenging for them to read independently.  Have children use this rule when they are picking out books to read on their own time. It's a great tool for them to have and it insure them and can provide confidence in a child.  When they read independently, you don't want them to get frustrated, but you want them to read and enjoy what they are reading.

I hope that explains it, but feel free to contact me if you're not sure about the five finger rule!  :)