Imagination Tutoring

Creative Tutoring for Elementary Aged Children

May 22

5 Common Mistakes Parents Make When Reading With Their Kids

by duslan

 

First of all, if you are reading with your kids, you are already avoiding a huge mistake, which is expecting them to only read on their own.  So, bravo!

 

If you are taking the time to read with your kids, however, avoiding these mistakes will help them become better readers more quickly:

1. Telling your kids the words

It is so easy, when your child reads a word wrong, to just tell her the word so that you can continue with the story.  However, doing this will ensure that the next time she stumbles on a tough word, she won’t try to figure it out, because she’ll know that you will do it for her. Instead of telling her the word, then, prompt her to use different strategies to problem-solve it.  Ask her what would make sense.  Can she “chunk” the word, or split it up into smaller, easier to read words?  What about using the pictures?  Your reading ability should be the last strategy you turn to, when it becomes clear that she can’t figure out the word on her own.

2. Choosing books that  are too difficult or too easy

Kids need to read just-right books.  It is fine if you want to read a more difficult book to your child, as long as he understands the meaning.  This can greatly aid in reading comprehension.  However, if you want your child to read to you, make sure that he can read most of the words – if he struggles with over 5 words on a page, it is too difficult.  Go back and choose a different book. When your child has to struggle with more than 5 words on a page, he will begin to think of reading as just that – a struggle.

3. Not discussing the book

As you read, ask your child a lot of questions.  What does she predict will happen next?  How does she infer the character is feeling?  What was her favorite part?  It is easy to skip the discussion so that you can get on with the story, but in doing so, you are missing many opportunities to help your child think about her reading.  Also, when she is well-versed in discussing books with you, she’ll be that much more comfortable doing so in school.

4. Reading for less than 20 minutes

In order for your child to progress in his reading, he needs to read A LOT.  Less than 20 minutes a day is just not enough time to improve his reading skills.  Sure, he is reading in school as well, but his teacher is probably only listening to him read for 5-10 minutes a day at the most.  The rest of the time, he is most likely reading independently, without an adult to guide him through and help him improve his skills.  Make sure that you fit in at least 20 minutes of reading a day.  If your child struggles to focus for that long, break it up into shorter chunks of time.  But make sure to hit that 20 minute mark.  And, honestly, 30 minutes is preferable.

5. Only reading fiction or non-fiction books

Making sense of fiction and non-fiction books requires different thinking skills.  If you only read stories, you are missing out on helping your child understand non-fiction.  If you only read non-fiction, you are losing the opportunity to explore features such as character development and plot.  Read a bit of both.  In addition to helping your child develop his reading skills, you will also expand his  knowledge and interests.

Reading Reading Comprehension Reading Strategies

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May 7

Questions to Ask Your Kids About Their Reading

by duslan

1. Can you tell me the main idea of this section?

Finding the main idea in text is a huge focus of testing, and an essential skill for good readers.  Every book, every article, every website has a main idea and supporting details.  If you practice doing this frequently, your child will be vastly better prepared to do well in school and to understand his or her reading. Your child’s response to this question will also help you see if she needs to go back and reread to gain a better understanding.

2. What do you think will happen next?

When a child  can make a reasonable prediction about a story, it is a clear indication that he has understood the reading and is also able to extend his thinking. Also, kids love guessing what will happen next in a story, and when they are correct, they get really excited.  This is a great way to get your child thinking deeply about the reading and enjoying it more at the same time!

3. What are you wondering about?

Questioning is a huge part of building reading comprehension.  When kids are encouraged to wonder about their reading, they begin to see that they can have a relationship with the text.  Have them write questions on sticky notes and refer back to them to see if they are answered later in the text.  If their questions aren’t answered, look them up online.  Ideally, this will also lead kids to develop strong interests and increase their motivation to learn and read.

4. What experience/book/idea does this remind you of?

In school, kids are asked to make text-to-self, text-to-text and text-to-world connections with their reading.  Do the same at home.  We learn by connecting our previous knowledge to new concepts and ideas.  By helping kids make explicit connections with their reading, you are actively helping them access their background knowledge.  They also become more attached to and interested in their reading when they realize it connects to their lives and experiences.

5. Were there any words in this section you didn’t understand?

Reading provides a constant opportunity for vocabulary building.  Have your child identify a few words in her reading she doesn’t know.  First have her attempt to define the words by looking at the surrounding words, or by learning prefixes, suffixes and root words. If this fails, have her find the word in a children’s dictionary. Then make an effort to use the new vocabulary on a frequent basis.  Write them on note cards, have your child add an illustration, slap on a bit pf magnetic tape, and put them on the fridge.  Then, encourage her to spell them and use them in conversation.   This will not only help her to understand more complex books, but also give her additional vocabulary to use in her writing as well.

Reading Comprehension Reading Strategies

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May 1

The three most important reading strategies to teach your child

by duslan

1. Check for understanding

At the end of each page or two pages of reading, ask your child if he understood the reading.  Ask him to tell you a brief summary of the pages.  It is so important for children to monitor their own reading, and to go back or choose a different book if they don’t understand.  Many children “fake-read” just to show their parents or teachers they are on task.  Meanwhile, they are missing the point of reading.  Train your kids to read for meaning and they will enjoy books so much more.

2. Choose a just-right book

A just-right book is one that your child can read independently.  She should stumble on a few words, but be able to problem-solve them and figure out what they mean within the context of the reading.  It is also a book that interests your child.  Her classroom may have a leveled library, but when you go to a book store or public library, the books won’t have reading levels on them.  When your child can pick up a book, read a few pages, and be able to tell if she will enjoy and be able to read the book, you are on the right track!

3. When problem-solving a difficult word, ask: Does it look right, does it sound right, and does it make sense?

Kids use 3 tools to understand their reading: visual cues, meaning, and syntax.  Many new readers will misread a word and just keep going.  If you notice your child doing this, DON’T TELL HIM THE WORD.  Instead, go back and say, “Did that make sense?”  ”You read a ‘t’ sound in that word. Do you see a ‘t’ in the word?”  or “Does that sound like a word you know?” Encourage him to think about the word and problem-solve it until he figures it out.

 

 

Reading Strategies

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