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- What can I do at home to help my child be a better reader?
- Is my child dyslexic if he mixes up his b's and d's?
- So- how can I help my child remember b and d correctly?
- My child reads so slow and choppy- how can I help her improve?
- Is TV REALLY bad for kids' reading development?
What can I do at home to help my child be a better reader?
FIRST and BEST is to READ to your child as much as possible! Studies
show that children who are read to, early on, and consistently
throughout their childhood, are more capable and motivated readers!
Don't hesitate to be DRAMATIC and energetic when you read; take time
to preview the book and tell your child WHY you think this would be a
FUN and interesting book they will ENJOY!
This counts for those children who are already reading...read to them
from books ABOVE their reading level, AT their "listening" level, to
enhance vocabulary and increase comprehension!
Is my child dyslexic if he mixes up his b's and d's?
Not necessarily. Keep in mind that first, "dyslexia" is simply a term we
use to cover any and all reading "difficulties"- it is really a catch-all
phrase that indicates a child doesn't seem to be "picking up on" the
reading process at a pace that seems appropriate or adequate. In
kindergarten and first grade, confusion about similar looking letters are
common- at first, kids don't really "get it" that the letter has to be in a
certain position in order to be "that" letter; to them, whichever was they
write it, is correct. As they learn that there IS a difference and that if you
make the b look like a d, it makes a different sound (and then a different
word- or nonsense word), some kids still have trouble remembering
which way to make (or read) the b,d,p,q. If this confusion, along with
other difficulties (such as not recalling sight words easily, mixing up
numbers or whole words, having difficulty blending words phonetically)
continues on through about third grade, then YES there is a strong
possibility your child may have what is called dyslexia, or a "reading
disability." To know for sure, you need to request IN WRITING that a full
evaluation be done; submit this letter to the school and the process
would be started. But remember, having trouble learning to read does
NOT always mean there is a "disability"- we may just need to find better
ways to ensure your individual child's success!
So- how can I help my child remember b and d correctly?
1. Write the word bed. spell it with your child, and then sound it out
slowly together. Show him that the b (making the "b" sound) is first, and
point out how the "belly" of the b makes up the beginning (or headboard)
of the bed..."eh"..."d" (again showing how the d makes up the end, or
footboard, of the bed).
2. Have your child give you a "double thumbs up"- notice how, when he
places his thumbs together, he has "made a bed!" The left hand has
formed a b, with the belly on the right side, the right hand has formed the
d. Now any time he is confused, you can tell him to "make your bed"-
when he holds up his hands, he can easily visualize the b-e-d, and can
write/read the correct letter/sound!
My child reads so slow and choppy- how can I help her improve?
One reason for this lack of "fluency" is that the material may be too hard
for your child to read. Does she make a lot of mistakes because there
are many words she doesn't know? If she is reading too slowly, she
may be trying so hard to decode ("sound out") each word, that she
doesn't even understand what she is reading! So first make sure that
the text is appropriate for your child.
Secondly, it is HARD to read fluently the first time through a new text! so
don't expect perfection every time. But tkae turns reading a page or two
with your child. MODEL what good readers do- we use inflection,
expression, emotion, when we read. Talk about "reading the
punctuation"- HOW do you sound when you come to a question mark?
An exclamation point? When characters are talking, demonstrate how
their voices might sound differently. Your child will get a lot out of this
modeling. Then let her REREAD a page, or paragraph, a few times, to
practice smoothness and fluency. You'd be surprised how effectively
she can read when she's had the modeling and chance to practice!
L:ast, let your child tape record herself when she reads for a page or
two. Let her then listen to herself; she will likely pick up on her lack of
expression, and will enjoy making a tape that "sounds" much more
exciting!
Is TV REALLY bad for kids' reading development?
TV AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN
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Very young children who watch television face an increased risk
of attention deficit problems by school age, according to a study
appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics.
Each hour a day in front of a TV screen increased by 10 percent
the chances that a child, ages 1-3, would show signs of attention
deficit disorders by the age of 7.
Problems included difficulty concentrating, acting restless and
impulsive, and being easily confused.
The findings bolster previous research showing that television
can shorten attention spans. The American Academy of Pediatrics
has long recommended that youngsters under age 2 not watch
television.
Some researchers question whether these findings apply to
educational programming.
More is needed on variables that could affect the impact of early
exposure to television, including whether content or watching TV
with a parent makes a difference, said Jennifer Kotler, assistant
director for research at Sesame Workshop.
For the complete story, go to
http://www.rutlandherald.com/04/Story/81635.html
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