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- What can I do as a parent to help my child with reading?
- What reading basics should I focus on with my child?
- What should I do if my child seems to be struggling?
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What can I do as a parent to help my child with reading?
Studies show that the most important thing parents can do to
encourage reading is to read daily. Remember to establish a reading routine
including a location and time that you and your child can follow daily.
Take turns reading allowing your child to read to you and you, in turn, read
to them.
Try these websites! Many include specific activities that will help
your child improve their reading abilities
1. Reading is Fundamental:
http://www.rif.org/parents/
Founded in 1966, RIF is the oldest and largest nonprofit literacy
organization in the United States for children and their families. This
site is organized by age groups. It includes information about motivating
your child, choosing appropriate books, providing a literacy-rich
environment, literacy
activities, and more.
2. Reading Rockets:
http://www.readingrockets.org/
A resource-based website that includes hundreds of activities to help
parents encourage reading at home.
3. Starfall
www.starfall.com
This fun activities-based website is a great place for a beginning reader.
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What reading basics should I focus on with my child?
*Decoding-This is broken into areas:
-Phonemic Awareness-The ability to notice, think about, and work with the
individual sounds in the spoken word.
-Phonics Instruction-This involves the relationships between the letters and
their individual sounds. In other words, pulling it all together.
Activities: Identify letters, write the letters, play "I Spy something
that starts with the letter"..., identify rhyming words,
count syllables in words
*Vocabulary-This refers to the words we must know to communicate
effectively. Vocabulary recognition is very important to reading
comprehension. Readers cannot understand what they are reading without
knowing what most of the words mean. As students read more advanced texts,
they must learn the meaning of new words that are not part of their oral
vocabulary.
Activities: Keep a journal of new words, identify a word-of-the-day,
read a variety of texts, Memorize sight words (Dolche list
at www.janbrett.com/games/jan_brett_dolch_word_list_main.htm
*Fluency-The ability to read a text accurately and quickly. When fluent
readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words
quickly to help them gain meaning from what they have read. Fluent readers
read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural,
as if they are speaking.
Activities: Read the same book several times, sing nursery rhymes,
memorize sight words (the, are, you,...), sing songs while
tracking their words in print
*Comprehension-If readers can read the words but do not understand what they
are reading, they are not really readers. As they read, good readers are
both purposeful and active. Comprehension, or understanding, is the reason
for reading.
Activities: Talk about what you read with your child, summarize
stories, write letters to story characters, make
predictions about what will happen next in a story,
compare stories
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What should I do if my child seems to be struggling?
First, take a breath and realize that you are not alone. Studies show
that 40% of parents report that their children have struggled with reading
at one time or another. Reading acquisition is complex and does not always
follow the same timeline from one child to the next. Sometimes children just
need more time, but sometimes they need extra help. Trust your instincts!
You know your child best. If you think there's a problem, there may be one.
Remember to contact your child's teacher. Talk about what you are seeing
at home and discuss the options. Your child's teacher is your best resource
and wants the best for your child.
Then, contact us - The Reading Specialists. We may be able to offer
suggestions to you and your child's teacher. Plus we have many resources
that we can provide to you.
You may want to check-out the following websites. We found the first to
be a great place to get started.
"Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: 8 Steps for Parents"
http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/643
This website is supported by Reading Rockets and includes 8 specific
steps to follow if you think your child is having trouble with reading.
Learning Disabilities On-line:
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/readingtips.html
This in-depth resource offers advice, activities, and information for
parents about advocating for children's rights.
Parents' Action for Children
www.parentsaction.org
It is a national non-profit dedicated to advancing the interests of families
and young children. The Parents' Action website provides parent education
materials.
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