Teach Your Child

To Read Or Else

How To Nurture Good Independent Reading Habits for Your Child

Your child's teacher has told you that regular, independent reading outside of

school is the best way to improve your child's fluency and raise their reading level.

This practice has not been a part of your routine at home and you need some

practical suggestions of how to implement a program for your child. Following are

simple, easy to apply strategies.

Create a routine. Your child's teacher will most likely recommend (or require)

reading for twenty to thirty minutes a day. Help your child make this a habit.

Sometimes reading at the same time every day is the best practice. Some kids, like

adults, like to read at bedtime, but comprehension may break down as your child

becomes sleepy.

If they read in bed, going to bed earlier than their bedtime is a good idea. Keep a

reading log to record how well they are sticking to the daily practice.

2. Provide a quiet, comfortable place to read.

It's hard to concentrate with the TV on, music playing, or the phone ringing. Ask

your child where they feel most comfortable. Sitting, reclining on pillows, or even

lying down is fine as long as they are still able to concentrate.

Be sure there is adequate lighting. Also, be sure to get regular eye exams for your

child should they need reading glasses. Sometimes when children are reluctant to

read, it is because their eyes feel strained.

Settling in to read should be a cozy, special time when children can let their

imaginations go. For younger children, a ‘reading buddy' in the form of a stuffed

animal can be a motivating companion, or a special blanket, pillow, or chair can

encourage strong habits.

3. Be positive, but firm when it comes to regular practice. Use a positive, not

nagging tone when it comes to practice reading. Be flexible, but firm.

You want the time spent to be productive- you don't want them just staring at the

page, but it may take them several minutes to settle into their book.

The sustainable time that they can concentrate and the facility with which they can

‘get into' their books will improve and increase over time, so have patience.

It may seem at first like your child is only spending five minutes or so actually

reading, but keep at it.

4. Teach your child to use a bookmark. It may sound obvious, but many kids lose

their spot and can't remember where they left off. Keeping that bookmark tucked in

place will help them to pick up with their book at any time and be less disrupted by

pausing their reading.

Sticky notes work very well because they don't fall out and because they can stick

it right underneath the line where they left off. Almost anything works as a

bookmark and it certainly isn't necessary to spend five dollars on one from the

bookstore. Implement a tracker if they have a hard time keeping their place.

A tracker is used to underscore the line your child is reading. This is helpful for

when the reader easily loses their place when reading. It takes a little practice: one

hand holds the book; the other hand moves the tracker down.

They will sustain comprehension better and waste less time finding their place

when they look away from their book for a moment. Very early readers may track

word by word with a fingertip, but more advanced readers should be taking on a

whole line at a time.

In fact, using a translucent strip of colored plastic (perhaps a ruler) will allow your

child to see not only the line they are reading, but also the upcoming line.