Language Arts Home Activities

Parents often ask me what their students can be doing at home to improve their skills in reading. Here is a list of easy to implement, no hassle tricks!

Language Arts

READ DAILY! Out loud to your child and have them read by themselves.

Repeated readings. Read the same thing over the course of a few days.

Level readers available at the library.

Have your child predict what the story will be about before reading.

Have them retell what happened after the story is finished.

Ask WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHEN questions after reading a story

Spelling words

• ·      Flashcards
• ·      In shaving cream
• ·      Write on whiteboards
• ·      Type on computer
• ·      Magnetic letters
• ·      Break words into chunks  (ch, sh, tch, ed)

Time their reading and have them try and beat their score.

Comic or joke books

Help them read a recipe and enjoy a yummy treat together (it also helps with their math)

Echo reading: You read a few words (or a sentence) and your child copies you. This teaches them how to fluidly read a sentence, pausing when they should. You can make it fun and use funny voices they have to copy too.

Cloze reading: As you are reading out loud to them stop reading and they have to say the next word. This makes them stay focused on where you are, increases vocabulary and helps with comprehension.

Blending: On the word "ship" your student might break up their sounds like "sh(break)i (break)-p" instead of  keeping their sounds together in one breath. Something that will help is to get a slinkey and when they sounds out a word have them stretch the word out in one breath while they stretch the slinkey.