3 SIMPLE Activities to Boost Your Child’s Reading Performance This School Year
It’s the end of August, which means a new school year is just around the corner (or has already started!) for many families. It's important to remember that although your child will be diving back into the world of routine classroom instruction, they still need to do activities at home that support what they are learning, especially when it comes to reading. Here are a few ways that you can give your child a reading boost outside of the classroom.
Word of The Day
When I was active on Instagram, I filmed a series of reels where I would introduce a new sight word every day, spelling the word, sounding it out, and using it in a sentence. This is so easy to replicate at home with your very own set of sight word flashcards. Have your child pick one word a day from the deck and go over how to spell, pronounce, and use the word in a sentence. Do this before school as a way to warm up the brain, after school as one last bit of learning, or on the weekends. Repeatedly going through sight words or other vocabulary words is a great way to help your child retain previously learned words and remember new ones!
Library Weekends
On the weekends, learning shouldn't stop, but it should also be fun! Studies show that “Students who choose what they read and have an informal environment in which to read tend to be more motivated, read more and show greater language and literacy development.” (literacyproj.org). Take your child to the library and have them pick a book that they find interesting. Sit and read to them, have them read the book to you, or read together! This is a great way to link reading with fun instead of the sometimes intimidating and stressful environment of the classroom.
Tutoring Programs and Services
Is there a free reading program or low-cost tutoring service in your area? Check it out! Since you’re there anyway, ask your local librarian about current programming. There may also be a local non-profit or educational resource center that houses a reading or literacy tutor that you can sign your child up with for free. Why tutors? Well, the school year can be an exciting time, but it can also be hectic. As a tutor that participates in library programs during the school year, I often help take a load off of caregivers by completing assigned nightly reading, or simply handling the learning struggles for the day. You would be surprised how helpful it can be to have another person step in to give your child a different perspective on what they are learning.
Try these activities throughout the school year and see how much your child progresses with their reading skills!
