Teaching children to read isn't as daunting as one may think. I spent five years on the School Reading Team, now this doesn't make me an expert, but, it does allow me to share with you some tricks that work!
1. Be a role model, a child is watching you read a book, a paper or a magazine. While times have changed, there are still simple tools to teach your children to read. Make it a game. Read the cereal box in the morning. Point out letters and words when you're driving to here and there in the car. Leave them notes and they'll want to know what they say. I don't believe you can force a child to learn to read, but, you sure can help them enjoy the love of reading.
2. Start with identifying the letters first. Use some techniques as mentioned above. When they're watching the television or playing on technology, point out letters, count how many you find and now you're adding math. When you make learning fun and not a chore a child is more likely to engage in these activities.
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3. Begin with the child's name. Identify the letters. Teach the sounds of each letter. Write their name on a piece of paper, (large) then cut out each letter, let your child put their name together. If you make the letters into bubble letters and large, let your child color them, make it a puzzle, glue it on a canvas or larger backdrop and display it for a visual of their name.
5. Once you have letters and sounds mastered, start with sight words. A name, siblings and other family names, include your pets. Ask your child to draw a picture of that person and ask them about that person. Write that persons name on the paper and even a little story from your child.
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6. I had a student who had dyslexia. What I did was found out what he liked, it happened to be superheroes'. So, I found Superhero coloring books and found all different characters, places and things to take copies of. This built his confidence in learning and in reading. We started out with letters, sounds, words and on into sentences. Make your child a special book to help build the love of learning.
7. Use index cards to write letters and words on. Build a word wall on your refrigerator or the playroom in your home. Make it a book for traveling or story time with your child. Spend time with your children reading and playing literacy games, you won't be sorry.
8. Conversations are important. Everyday talk with your child builds a love to communicate and socialize with you and with others. As a parent you're spread thin at times, remember, time goes by quickly and when you show your child you're readily available at an early age, you build trust. Converse with your child, don't just demand they get ready for school, get ready for lunch, get ready we're going to be late for soccer. Show them the respect they deserve and they'll respect you back. Communicate and discuss lessons, activities, the who, what, where, when and why.
When you stop to listen to the children, you will have an ear to ear grin, try it! I hope these simple ideas helped and you spend time with your children to open up the doors of communication and imagination.
Characters of Character has books available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books a Million. There are social stories, resource books, paper bag puppets book and activity books. Have your child write a letter to their favorite character and the character will write back! S.A.S.E. please. Now you're teaching literacy, communication and character ALL while having fun with your child!
Contact us here or send the old fashioned way to Character name at P.O. Box 391, McHenry, Illinois 600501