How can I help my child read faster and more smoothly?
5 Surefire Strategies for Developing Reading Fluency
Although the link to the article above is written to "teachers" these strategies are simple but effective and can be used at home very easily!
"Reading Fluency Helpers" Tab
At the top of the screen click on the "Reading Fluency Helpers" tab. There you will find Fry's Word Lists. These are the most frequently encountered words in reading. Printing and practicing reading these words will help increase your child's reading fluency & strengthen instant word recognition. You can make it a game by timing your child for one column and seeing if they can beat their own time.
Repeated Reading
It's so simple that it's easy to forget! Repeated reading is simply having your child read the same passage or books more than one time. This is key for struggling readers for many reasons. (1) It allows the reader to experience success. (2) They can experience the feeling of fluid reading. (3) They build their sight word recognition. Don't be worried if your child wants to read the same book over and over again. That is great practice. They can find different audiences around the house or call a family member on the phone. Even if the book it a little too easy for them it is ok. This is still excellent practice and experience with literacy!
How can I be sure my child is selecting the right books for his/her reading level?
The key is that they are enjoying reading! Reading should not be drudgery. If it is, that may be a sign that the book is too hard for the child. Although we want to teach kids to commit to a task and see it through, selecting the right book is tricky. It is perfectly alright to abandon a book that is too difficult or not interesting. Here is a simple, but effective, way to see if the book is at the right level for your child:
THREE FINGER RULE:
1. Ask your child to read the first page of his/her book aloud.
2. Tell them to hold up one finger for each word that they cannot read (or struggle more than 3 seconds to figure out).
3. If they are holding up 3 fingers by the time they get to the end of the page, the book is probably too hard for independent reading.
Book Adventure Website
This website has a great search engine to find books by reading level. It will generate lists depending on reading level, interest and other criteria. It is more important for children to have a high volume of enjoyable independent reading experiences, than to struggle through a book that is too hard. When in doubt, go with a high-interest, easy read. Keep in mind that their reading level is not always the same as their grade level.
5 Surefire Strategies for Developing Reading Fluency
Although the link to the article above is written to "teachers" these strategies are simple but effective and can be used at home very easily!
"Reading Fluency Helpers" Tab
At the top of the screen click on the "Reading Fluency Helpers" tab. There you will find Fry's Word Lists. These are the most frequently encountered words in reading. Printing and practicing reading these words will help increase your child's reading fluency & strengthen instant word recognition. You can make it a game by timing your child for one column and seeing if they can beat their own time.
Repeated Reading
It's so simple that it's easy to forget! Repeated reading is simply having your child read the same passage or books more than one time. This is key for struggling readers for many reasons. (1) It allows the reader to experience success. (2) They can experience the feeling of fluid reading. (3) They build their sight word recognition. Don't be worried if your child wants to read the same book over and over again. That is great practice. They can find different audiences around the house or call a family member on the phone. Even if the book it a little too easy for them it is ok. This is still excellent practice and experience with literacy!
How can I be sure my child is selecting the right books for his/her reading level?
The key is that they are enjoying reading! Reading should not be drudgery. If it is, that may be a sign that the book is too hard for the child. Although we want to teach kids to commit to a task and see it through, selecting the right book is tricky. It is perfectly alright to abandon a book that is too difficult or not interesting. Here is a simple, but effective, way to see if the book is at the right level for your child:
THREE FINGER RULE:
1. Ask your child to read the first page of his/her book aloud.
2. Tell them to hold up one finger for each word that they cannot read (or struggle more than 3 seconds to figure out).
3. If they are holding up 3 fingers by the time they get to the end of the page, the book is probably too hard for independent reading.
Book Adventure Website
This website has a great search engine to find books by reading level. It will generate lists depending on reading level, interest and other criteria. It is more important for children to have a high volume of enjoyable independent reading experiences, than to struggle through a book that is too hard. When in doubt, go with a high-interest, easy read. Keep in mind that their reading level is not always the same as their grade level.