There may be times when getting your child to read this summer will be challenging.... Here are some tips on how to keep your child an "everyday reader."
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Explore some websites! Check out our "Links for Mathematicians," "Extra Fun Links," or "Helpful Links." There are lots of educational websites that include nonfiction/fiction books and articles. For example: National Geographic: Kids, PBSKids, DiscoveryKids.
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Let them be natural readers! Have your child read directions for games or on how to put things together. Let them read the back of food packages (ie: cereal boxes). Cook together and have your child read the recipe!
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Encourage your child to write - in a journal, in an email, in a letter or note. S/he can write a comment on this blog or send me an email too! This type of writing naturally encourages reading too (as usually the person being written to writes back.)
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Be a reader and writer yourself! It sounds silly, but when you spend time reading books or directions on how to put something together, you are showing your child that reading is fun and purposeful for adults too!
- Set aside a regular time each day for reading. If you set a consistent time each day to read, your child will build his/her endurance and good reading habits. This could be at bed time, while you're fixing dinner, in the afternoon, or in the morning!
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Read aloud to your child, no matter his/her reading ability. Sometimes, as children become better readers, parents stop reading aloud to them. However, by reading more difficult books aloud to them, you help them learn new vocabulary words, concepts, and demonstrate fluency.
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Connect read-aloud choices to summer activities. Try reading a book about kayaking before or after a kayaking adventure. If you read and discuss books about things your child has experienced, it helps him/her learn important vocabulary and extend their understanding.
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Listen to your child read. If your child is reading smoothly, with expression, and can retell what s/he reads, the book is "just right."
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Always have a book with you! Just pack them into your beach bag or in the car. Always be prepared for them to read while in line at the grocery store, in a waiting room, in the car, wherever and whenever!
- Read a book and watch the movie together. Many books are also movies these days (and vice versa) like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc. You can talk about the similarities and differences and talk about which version you liked best.
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Try Scholastic's Summer Challenge Book List! Go on a "book hunt" and check out these books! There is even a code at the bottom to help you. So many of these books are at our TBPS library!!!
(Click to see the lists larger, save, then print out!)
Miss Snyder
