These are some ideas I have found to be successful when I taught my own children at home for a number of years. I have also found some of these ideas to be especially helpful to struggling and beginning readers. I hope these are helpful to you as your children grow to be adept, independent readers!
• Set aside a time for reading every single day, whether you read to him or have him read to you or to himself. Make it a part of his daily routine, as much as brushing his teeth or taking a bath. A minimum of 20 – 30 minutes per day outside of school is recommended, or more if you can.
• Read aloud to him daily to model good reading habits, and use a variety of genres of literature. Talk about what you are reading. Ask questions periodically throughout the story that will make him think more deeply. Help him relate to the characters in some way.
• Have him read many books on tape/CD/MP3, following along with the recording.
• Review any difficult words from a new passage prior to beginning any new story. This will alleviate frustration and allow him to focus more on the meaning of the story rather than tripping on difficult words.
• Review sight words and phonics lessons daily. You can use flash cards, games, charts, songs, etc. Headsprout will make a big difference, and you can also find recorded phonics songs via the internet, teacher supply stores, and sometimes the library for additional help.
• Be sure to incorporate all senses when practicing reading concepts. For example, use lots of bright colors, charts, and pictures for visual stimulation; songs and rhymes for auditory; games, flash cards, blocks, letter tiles, and anything to touch or use with movement for kinesthetic; and online games for all three.
• Build his interest and background knowledge before reading a story. The more he understands about the setting, characters, or general ideas in the plot will help him become more engaged in the story, thus increasing his understanding. For example, watch a Western or look at pictures of cowboys before reading a story about cowboys, or actually visit a boat before reading a story about the ocean or being stranded at sea.
• Have him reread stories several times so that they are familiar to him. This will increase his confidence significantly, and will help reinforce what he has learned before having to move to something new and frustrating again. You can also read the stories back to him as well, going back and forth.
• Have him practice stories that are easy for review and confidence building. This will also help him develop other reading skills beside just decoding print.
• Restrict the amount of time spent watching TV or playing video games. While these things can be good to a point, passive entertainment hampers a child’s creativity and imaginative thinking.
• On the other hand, spend time watching educational TV and playing educational video or online reading games. These can be very motivational for him and offer an alternative form of practice that will help it “stick.”
• Have a home library of children’s books and go to the library often. One of the most important ways to inspire your child to read is to have a large variety of interesting books from which to choose.
• Set an example by reading every day yourself. Children will see how important reading is to their parents, and this will establish their feelings about reading.
• Have a special area set up in your home for reading time. Make it a special place that will be inviting for him. Make it comfortable with a bean bag chair or lots of pillows. Offer a snack or drink, or play very soft classical or jazz music, depending on his learning preferences. My kids even liked it when I lit a candle during reading time because the fragrance created a relaxing atmosphere.
• Keep track of books he has finished or goals he has met and celebrate! It can be quite motivating to work toward a certain goal or reward. The feeling of accomplishment alone will make him want to read more.
• Praise every effort and show him that he really can do it! Remind him of where he was compared to where he is now, and how far he has come!
