PARENT Strategies for Improving Reading
Skills at Any Grade Level
The following suggestions will help your child to increase his/her understanding of reading and help develop confidence
in the learning process. Choose 2 or 3 of the following strategies that you are not already doing and work on them throughout the year and during the summer months.
- Read orally to your child (short stories, poems, news articles, recipes, etc.)
- Model good reading skills in the home by reading in front of your child
- Provide a consistent daily study period without distractions
- Monitor daily and weekly assignments
- Read a story and have your child predict what will happen
- Read a story and have your child change the ending
- Read a story and make up a sequel
- Make use of Scholastic Reading Counts quizzes
- Use books and follow-along recordings
- Have your child write about a family event and then read it back to an adult
- Visit the public library frequently
- Join public library summer programs
- Provide opportunities for your child to attend theater performances, musicals, IMAX, etc.
- Follow up on enrichment activities with additional materials
- Compare/contrast movies and videos with previously read books
- Limit TV/video games
- Encourage your child to keep a journal (travel, family events, feelings)
- Provide high interest literature, including magazines
- Encourage letter-writing, pen pals, and thank you notes
- Provide reference materials and activities that encourage your child to use reference skills
- Discuss literature with your child, asking higher-level questions
- Monitor your child’s reading by asking literal questions
- Monitor your child’s reading by asking them to make inferences or draw conclusions
- Monitor your child’s reading by asking critical questions
- Discuss and encourage addition of words to your child’s vocabulary
- Provide vocabulary skills materials such as vocabulary workbooks, crossword puzzles, word games, etc.
Other Resources
For summer practice activities that follow our reading text, go to http://www.harcourtschool.com/index.html. Choose [Reading], [Harcourt Trophies] right below STORYtown, then [Click the books]. If you are prompted to input a password, type in "farr" (name of one of the editors). Recommend activities include: "Reading Skills Rocket," "Test Tutor," "Grammar Practice Park," or "Go for Grammar Gold." There is also a section of Parent Resource links.
Ideas for Parents:
http://pageforparents.org/ol/deliver.php?subscriberID=W1480&contentType=ideasForParents
Components of Literacy:
http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/literacy/readingcomponents.html
The Independent School District of Boise, Idaho has wonderful parent resources and recommended reading lists available. Please keep in mind that these lists are only a recommendation and that the final decision about what content, subject matter, and reading level is appropriate for your child is up to you.