Learning to read is one of the most important skills that a child can learn. But it doesn’t come easy for many kids. One way to help them learn how to read is by teaching them through fun activities. This article explores how you can teach your children how to read, from kindergarten through high school, by giving them interesting reading activities. See also, learn English.
When it comes to teaching kids to read, one of the most common questions parents have is: “How can I teach my child to read?” Reading has become a global obsession and has reached epic proportions.
There are a number of techniques to teach children how to read. Some techniques focus on using direct instruction and others use more natural, hands-on approaches. However, the best way to teach kids how to read is not something you can learn from a book or hear in a class. Instead, it comes from your child’s interests and experience with books.
Most children can read at a very young age. The challenge is to sustain that skill and make it last. This article explores why children struggle with reading, and how parents can help them build the habit of reading.
Here are 11 simple steps to teach your child to read at home:
1. Use songs and nursery rhymes to build phonemic awareness
Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate letters. Early exposure to phoneme formation enables children to read more complex words, much earlier than they would otherwise be able-bodied. To make phoneme awareness part of your child’s daily routine, spend a little time singing nursery rhymes and following along with simple board books. The more they hear words that they can easily manipulate into their mouth, the better!
2. Make simple word cards at home
You can make your own word cards using materials that are available at a growing cents store (e.g., cardboard, string and glue). You can fill these cards with a word’s sound, spelling and pictures. Add these cards to your child’s puzzle book or preschooler storybook and read the words together.
When you are reading a book, touch (or point) at the pictures with your finger so that they can feel what is happening in the story. Then, ask each card’s name—”What kind of a picture does this say?” for instance: “A man standing on his head.” This technique helps kids see pictures when reading aloud.
3. Engage your child in a print-rich environment
Read with your child for fun, or teach him to read like a pro. Reading aloud has several benefits including improving attention spans and increasing vocabulary usage. It also helps make writing more enjoyable by providing role-modeling, build facts about the world that can later be tested in further learning (e.g., write about different parts of the body)
4. Play word games at home or in the car
Word banks/tiles and flashcards are fun to play with. These games help your child learn the new letters; remembering spelling words, reading higher level words in different contexts (e.g., food container for snack).
5. Understand the core skills involved in teaching kids to read
Decoding, blending and segmenting are the three core foundations of early reading programs such as those supported by the Letters to Dr Seuss (now called “Lexile”) program at long-term care facilities aimed towards older kids with special learning needs.
Decoding: Decode all words in sight! Look for both letter sound correspondences (sometimes printed or written) but also word meaning(s). Use phonics to encode a picture/ word into a set of corresponding letters.
Blending: Apply your knowledge from the previous step to produce new words meaningfully! Ask yourself this question and look for all possible ways that a word can be broken down using sounds, spelling/sound correspondence or synonyms (e.g., “newsstand” – small cart). Compose phrases, definitions & questions about each blend you come across! Get creative!
6. Play with letter magnets
Incorporate letter magnets into games, play dough and/or tactile activities such as fingerplays/calisthenics. Letter magnets can be used to spell out words, play board games or create puzzles with their shape and texture…
7. Harness the power of technology to keep your child engaged
See our list of cool free and paid apps for kids, games & activities in a variety of categories: including reading and writing. There are lots of free stuff out there to keep your kids engaged. Below you’ll find a handful of cool apps and fun games for different learning levels that will help build letter & word recognition, blending/ segmenting skills, reading practice independently or with others in the classroom over time and enhance reading comprehension!
“Down came Mrs K., wrapped up warm by her long fur.”
“Blackberry jam on an English muffin,
Cover it with butter, and
Go tell my mother.” See also, English reading.
8. Read together on a daily basis and ask questions about the book
Read a book at least once every week as part of your child’s bedtime routine. Doing so engenders an interest in reading and can also be used to review the previous days’ curriculum, among other content-related items.
9. Play games to memorise high-frequency sight words every day
Teach your child how to play memory games with letters, numbers and their own name. And then ask them to teach you more!
10. Be patient; the best way to teach kids to read is to make it fun!
Remember, the best way to learn is through play. By setting up strategies that are enjoyable and fun for your child you will increase their motivation, enthusiasm and retention of all learning experiences. Encourage them to ask questions when they don’t understand something.
11. Encourage your child to read aloud
(via vocal or physical response) at home and when out of the house throughout a given week until reading has become second nature for them!
By making reading visible, easy and fun kids will be more inclined to practice it on their own time. Be sure they explore how readers speak and price sentences they will never forget because of an important turn-of-phrases that needed comprehension.
All in all, reading is an activity that is enjoyable and fun for children. It will make them feel proud of themselves when they read, and they will remember what they have read long after the book has been put down. By encouraging your child to practice reading on a daily basis you are helping them to develop their love for books, as well as their own critical thinking skills.
So, go ahead and encourage your child to get into reading! You can start