Strategies for Assisting Beginner Readers in Forming Good Reading Habits
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Observing children as they put letters and words together while reading from a book. But, as much as kids like reading now, how can we ensure that they will continue to do so in the future? After all, statistics show that children’s enthusiasm in reading on their own begins to wane as early as fourth grade.
What can we do to help new readers acquire excellent reading habits?
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How To Build Strong Reading Habits
My greatest priority isn’t for my children to become the next genius or to be at the top of their class. Instead, I’d like to help them develop a passion for reading. And I accomplish this by cultivating good reading habits such as these.
Make Reading A Daily Activity
Who has 20 minutes, let alone five, to read a book every day? It’s just a matter of not doing anything else so you can read. The simplest method to include 20 minutes into your schedule is to do so.
That’s when we go to bed. After putting on their jammies, all three children know to snuggle and read. They operate on autopilot, so they not only enjoy reading, but they also do so automatically. There’s no need to nag. Twenty minutes is enough time for your child to develop strong reading habits.
Read As A Family
You’ll be surprised at how frequently you can incorporate reading into your family’s daily routine.
Take, for example, the grocery shop. Request that your child read labels or point to things and explain what they say. Make a note of the aisle numbers and placards. Show him the lettering on stop signs and those painted on the street as you walk around the block.
Reading takes place not only in books but all around us.
Read Pages Together
Alternate reading pages with your child to encourage them to read aloud. You read one page while he reads the next. Stick to books you know he’ll enjoy and can read with inflection. Try a book with fewer lines for him to read if he reads like a run-on sentence with no stops or punctuation.
Ensure The Books Are Age Appropriate
The correct book can make all the difference in the world! First, look for books that are appropriate for your child’s age. The Five-Finger Rule is one approach to determine a book’s difficulty level. Request that your child read a page from a book. Count how many words he has trouble with.
If he stumbled on five or less at the end of the page, the book is appropriate for his age. Any more than that, and it becomes unmanageable.
Choose novels that are age-appropriate as well as those that are related to his interests. Find books about everything from the moon to clouds to ladybugs and read them with him. You’re giving him a good time and teaching him to new concepts.
Point as You Read
Run your finger underneath the words you recite out loud while you read a book. He’ll be able to follow along more easily and recognize a few words. He’ll also pick up on your intonation and notice when you pause or stop in between statements.
It’s Ok To Read the Same Books
The same novels are enjoyed by all of the children. They might require a few more reads to acquire the content and perhaps learn new words, just like any excellent novel. What are the finest books to read again and over? The novels that your child keeps requesting.
Look Up New Words
Make it a game or an assignment to search up a new term every now and again. Find words in a narrative that you think your child might not be familiar with as you read it. Make a note of it, and after you’ve finished reading the book, have him:
Make a definition (with your help).
Find a similar word and write it down.
Fill in the blanks with the sentence you found in the book.
Come up with and compose a fresh sentence utilizing the word on his own.
Draw a scene using a word from the book or a sentence he made up.
Get Curious
Through reading prompts, encourage your child to comprehend and examine the stories he reads. For each book, I recommend asking one or two people. This isn’t something you have to do with every book you read, but it’s a terrific way to keep your child interested.
What do you believe the plot of this novel is?
What do you anticipate will happen next, in your opinion?
What was he thinking when he did that?
What is his current state of mind?
Who was the main character in the storey?
What was the story’s problem?
What method did the characters use to figure it out?
What did this book teach you? (Perfect for non-fiction.)
Help With Homework
I’ve heard that parents should assist their children with schoolwork up until fourth grade. It’s easy to believe that your child knows what he’s supposed to do or that he’ll remember to finish his homework.
Instead, be available to answer any questions he may have regarding his schoolwork or the directions for it. Or at the very least, double-check his work when he’s finished.
Raising Readers
It all starts with you if you want to raise a lifelong reader. Reading often and everywhere will help your child develop healthy reading habits.
When you do, use reader prompts and alternating pages to encourage active engagement. Look for novels that are appropriate for his age and that pique his attention. Also, keep active in his schoolwork so that you can help him understand what he’s learning.
Your child will become a better reader as a result of these behaviors. He’ll also acquire a love of reading that he’ll carry into adulthood.
