How Do I Reinforce My Child's Reading Progress?

Here's a simple, but huge self-esteem building tip when reading with your beginning reader.

As a child is learning how to read, they struggle, struggle through each word and sentence and it is difficult for them to put the greatness of the accomplishment they have just made in perspective; when to themselves, they are only hearing halted, choppy words and sentences. So, after they have finished, say, "Now I will read back to you what you have just read so that you can hear what a great job you have just done!" Add some expression to it, then follow it up with a big compliment for them having read such a cool story!

You will be amazed at how this one, simple thing will make them see that they are truly making progress, and becoming a great reader! Often, they even completely miss the main message of what they are reading, but when you read it back to them with some excitement in your voice, they will think, "Wow! Is that really what I just read? I'm doing better than I thought. And, that really was a neat story!"

If all they get out of their reading time with you are a bunch of choppy words and sentences, then, yes, they will not think reading is very fun, or that they are any good at it. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Doreese

New Year's Reading Resolutions Made Easy!

Happy New Year's! And I hope your holidays were filled with all the candy canes and eggnog you could possibly handle! I know mine were!

This is the perfect time to do some calculated maneuvers to get your child/children to commit to reading with you every day. Sit down with them, get out your new calendar and explain to them that this is the beginning of a brand New Year. And this is the time to think about all the things that you would like to accomplish during the year. Put reading with mom or dad at the top of the list because it is the very most important part of their education. Let them help you decide how many minutes a day they will read. Set a reasonable goal, but one that will push them a bit. Help them decide on a reward for when they achieve a certain goal. Say your goal is to read for 20 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Let them have their own calendar. They can put a sticker on each day after they read, or put an X through it. Then if they choose to do extra and read 6 days a week, they can get something from the prize bucket. I don't think kids need to be rewarded for doing what they are suppose to all the time. But, if you have a particularly stubborn child, it sure can help. And it doesn't have to be anything big. A sticker is not much, but kids love getting them. And a prize bucket is all the more reason to go the extra mile.

These are just some suggestions. But, for sure, sit down and try to set some "resolutions" that will hopefully evolve into full-time habits! (I keep hoping that for the ones I set!) Teach them the word "resolution" itself. Have them repeat it with you five times a day until they know it and what it means. A great new vocabulary word!

Along with scholastic types of resolutions, you need to put some fun ones in there too, not that reading isn't fun. But, some other things that are not contingent on them having to do something in order to "earn" doing it. Maybe one "fun" thing a month. Have them help come up with these too. Get an ice cream cone with grandpa and grandma. Go to a movie, maybe invite a friend.

Well, good luck to everyone with all of your "fresh starts!" I love feeling like I've got a fresh slate, and I want to make some changes, or just set goals of cleaning out drawers, and such. I'm working on writing a book right now, and that will be my goal for this year - to try to finish it by the end of the year. I've never written a full-legnth book before. But, I think this will be good. If is doesn't turn out, well then, don't be expecting to see it on the shelves!

Doreese