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Helping your Student to Enjoy Reading at Home
Choice
Choosing your own book is a powerful piece to enjoying reading. Do they want to read fiction
or non-fiction? Do they want to read a chapter book, picture book, poetry book, magazine, or
newspaper article? The only rules need to be that it has text for them to practice in, is text they enjoy
reading, and it’s at a level that they can comprehend.
Choosing how the book is read for 20 minutes is another piece. Do they want to read it aloud to a
sibling or parent? Do they want to read it silently? Do they want to partner read with a sibling or
adult?
Choosing where they want to read. Table, couch, bathroom, bedroom, under the clothes pile, we all
have our favorite spots. The only rule here needs to be that it’s a spot free of distractions. You’ll be
discussing the reading after so you don’t need to constantly monitor. If they’re reading a good book
they won’t need you to monitor.
Choosing the time of day they want to complete their reading. Sometimes bedtime is not the best
time to read and discuss a book. Try out different times of the day and discuss what time worked
best for the child and the family.
Choosing a good level
Once the child knows the topic and genre they’d like to read they need to confirm that they are
willing to do the amount of work that needs to be done to understand it. The level of book for at
home reading should be a mix of easy, just right, and challenging books that the child WANTS to
read. Students know how they feel about a book. Let them read a few pages before they have to
commit. The grade level of the book has little to do with whether it’s right for the child. It may have
been easy for another child but that doesn’t mean it will be for this one.
-EASY TEXT- takes very little effort to decode the words and to understand. Students can easily retell
the events and ideas in the book. They had a clear picture in their head and can discuss it with little
effort. Easy books at home are fine as long as they are engaging. If students are flipping through the
pages bored they should find another book.
-JUST RIGHT TEXT is the level that I want students reading at school when I’m teaching them how to
read. This book is easy for the most part but requires some work to decode words and or to
understand. The student may have to reread occasionally or get help decoding a word or two but for
the most part they are able to solve the problems themselves and once solved they are able to
understand and enjoy the text.
-CHALLENGING TEXT- takes lots of work to understand. They need an adult present to help them
move through the text. This text requires students to do a lot more work to understand what they
are reading. If they are ENJOYING the book, have the support, and are understanding the text, it’s
okay to read this level at home. Challenging books can become Frustrating if there isn’t enough
support.
-TO HARD/Frustrating TEXT- These are books that the student is not understanding and cannot do
the amount of work needed. These books kill a love of reading and should not be read at home!
If a child chooses a book they’re dying to read but it’s clear that it is to hard for them to understand,
suggest you do it as a read aloud together or listen to it on tape. Then have them pick another book
to read independently.
Show you are interested!
Make sure your child has the opportunity go to the libraries and book stores. Let them see you get
excited about your new books. Let them see how you choose books.
Let them see you read! Reading aloud together and reading silently in your own books together are
both great ways to model that you are a reader.
Discuss books! Share with them what is going on in your book. Talk about what you enjoy, what
surprises you, and what you don’t like in the story. Discuss your reading habits and history with
them. What text do you find challenging? What do you do when you’re confused in your reading?
Each day after your child completes their reading, discuss their reading with them.
Discussion is Part of the Homework.
Discussing reading is much more natural and real than writing a summary. If done correctly it builds
a love of reading. Checking in daily helps parents to know if the child is engaged and understanding
the text. It also helps children to reflect on their reading and reading habits. Here are some sample
questions to get you started.
What’s happened so far?
Who’s your favorite character, why?
Why did you choose this book?
What did you think about as you read this book?
What level of book do you think this is for you, why?
Tell me about the book you’re reading?
Who is the main character? What do you like or dislike about them?
I am available to help trouble shoot. I can recommend more ideas and I can help with book choices. I
have a classroom library and a school library they can borrow from. I can help them pick a book that
is a good level for them. Just let me know if you need a hand. Remember I’m their reading teacher,
your job is to build the habit at home in books they want to spend time with. If they find the right
book, have the right atmosphere, and get the right support the only fighting should be when you
make them put the book down! Together we can do this!
Have fun,
Jenn McMurrin
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