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
- · 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.
