Raising a Reader (Revisited)
We’ve taken a break here at ‘Elepaio and Co, and in the meantime I’ve got an 8 year old who is learning to read independently… in two languages, simultaneously.
First, can we stop for a minute and appreciate how amazing children are in their ability to process information, no matter what the environment? Kids regularly go to school in a language different than their home language, learn not only listening and speaking but also cultural cues and slang, silly songs and games, and somehow manage to take it all in stride! I’m in awe.
But I also have a child who is frustrated with learning to read. We’ve got some things going for us in this particular situation… for one, she is learning German as well as English, which are two very similar languages. They share an alphabet and many words. There’s a fair amount of crossover where grammar is concerned too. But still, pronunciation and spelling are different enough that it’s a serious task!
At school they read for 10 minutes each day, and she is progressing quite nicely in her German reading, but at home it’s on us to enforce some structure in English. So what do we do?
Here’s what has worked for us (no guarantees of tear-free reading, but it does seem to be working… )
Keep reading out loud.
Bedtime stories have been part of our routine since Boo was about 9 months old. We have graduated from board books to chapter books now, but the ritual remains one of the best parts of our day. Diving into a story together provides rich fodder for discussion and imaginary play. Whether or not your child is independently reading is beside the point here, because this is about developing and keeping that love for reading.
Watch the occasional movie based on a book
This has been fun for us. We’ve read so many classics that there’s a whole pile of movies based on the books we’ve loved (some better than others, true). What’s great about this is that movies are exciting! And comparing the movie to the book, how the characters look/act/seem, how the storyline differs, what we thought of each… there’s a lot of room for discussion there. And again, it reinforces that love for stories and reading.
First you read a bit, then I read a bit
This is a controversial one at our house, but it is effective with some cajoling. Whether it’s a page or a chapter, the price for a story is reading a bit out loud first. With a lot of encouragement and a bit of help pronouncing, this has really paid dividends.
Snail Mail
Boo is lucky to have a Grandmother who loves mail. They keep up a regular correspondence with letters and cards. I give her free reign of my stationary box and she writes letters, and when she receives a reply, she’s always eager to try reading it for herself.
What’s working (or not working) for you? Got any tips for helping children to read independently? I’d love to hear!
