The most important thing you can do is read to him everyday. Read books he is interested in. Read books at all reading levels. When you read to him, sometimes run your finger under the words, to point out the words you are reading to him. This is best in books with just a few words on a page (a few sentences with well-spaced words). Casually ask him a word sometimes. But don't emphasisize this too much. The main thing is for him to enjoy the book and maintain an interest in books. The reading will come. -- Can he write his name (not all capital letters)? Can he write Mom, Dad, other names of people important to him? Words with emotional attachment are easeir for children to learn (love, pizza, zoo, dog, cat. Once he knows a word, have him run his finger slowly under the word and talk about how the letters he sees match the sounds he says. -- Use magnetic letters on your refrigerator to play a game of making words. Start with his name. -- Whisper read a simple book with him. You read the page (sentence) quietly into his ear as you point to the words, then he reads it and points to the words. -- Can he point accurately, word by word, to a rhyme or short sentence he knows, matching his voice to the print? --- Play word games with him. He needs to be able to rhyme orally. And pick out ryming words from poems and rhymes he hears. Also, orally play games where he names things that start with the same letter (like things that start with B). -- Provide many experiences for him so that he develops concepts and a rich language. These are necessary for him to understand what he reads, which is the ultimate goal.