Breeding Readers: A Shortcut

Every time I hear a child say that reading is boring, a little piece of my soul dies. I can’t imagine living in a world without the written word. I loved reading since I was very young. Reading is one of the most vital parts of education. Parents cannot overlook the importance of literacy. It is a fundamental skill, and statistically, a lack of reading can produce smaller vocabularies, lower cognitive ability and decrease your child's success in pursuing higher education.

Encouraging your child to read does not have to be done in a formal way and can simply become a daily habit in your household. Set aside time everyday for reading together as a family or one-on-one with each child. Incorporate books into every subject area including science. I like Building Blocks of Science and Story of the World for science and history, respectively, because they both read more like a narrative and less like a textbook. I let my kids choose their own books when reading independently. I never assign them books, nor do I use ever reading as a punishment, especially if I take away other privileges like toys and television. You don't want your children to have that negative association to reading.

For some kids, the dislike of reading comes because they struggle with basic skills. When children get a rough start to reading, it creates negative feelings that can last until the adult years. Make sure that you are positively reinforcing reading by using encouraging language like “Great job! You read so well!" instead of always focusing on what they should fix about their current level of reading skills (like pointing out grammar errors). Start with the shortest possible books and work your way up. Follow your child's lead when increasing reading levels. Don't feel that you have to give your child books for their grade level. They'll let you know when the books are too short or no longer challenging.

If your kids are still reading on a lower level, you can always add more interesting books to their library such as picture books and comics. This will pique their interest in reading while they build up their skills. Sydney loves MineCraft comics and Captain Underpants books and she reads them often and without prompting. Read along books are also helpful for developing reading skills. Once your child learns the basics of reading, try listening to audiobooks together or having them listen while they follow along in their book. Reading does take practice but also remember that each child has different learning styles, and classic literature may not be the best fit for your homeschooler. There is no “right” way of homeschooling so if it takes some time for them to adjust then just keep going until they find a positive association with reading!

Tips for helping reluctant readers:

• Read to your child. The more you read to your child, the faster they will pick up sight words, vocabulary, context clues and grammar. Make reading an entertaining experience. Do the voices. Make sound effects. Involve them in the story. You can also have older siblings read out loud for younger ones. This helps build confidence and fluency in reading for all of your kids at the same time!
• Let your kids pick their own books based on their interests.  Reading about something they are genuinely interested in can take the focus off of the struggles of reading. This may be one of the best ways to get children engaged in reading.
• Create a culture of reading. If you sit around and watch TV or spend hours scrolling on your phone, your child is going to want to do those things too. Kids imitate their parents. It's how they learn about life. Let your child see you read often. If you want your child to read, make reading a priority in your life as well. You don't necessarily have to walk around reading Chaucer. Any book or magazine will do!

 

How does your child feel about reading?

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