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