You open your child’s backpack and inside they have reading homework…dun, dun, dun! You just had parent/teacher conferences and your child’s teacher said they should be reading more at home. You get it, but how can you help them read without stopping your mile-long list of trying to get dinner on the table, the little one bathed, and stopping the other two from arguing? Snuggling up with your little one and a good book would be so much fun, but it just can’t happen tonight.
Snuggling up and reading is always the best way to read, but hey, I get it. I am a mom and a teacher, but a little truth, I don’t always read to my kids snuggled up every night, but we still get it done.
Okay, let’s stop, collaborate, and BREATHE. Here are a few tips to get your dreaded nightmare to become a dream.
- Before even opening the book, have your child tell you what does this book make you think about. (Teacher secret – they start reading when they pick up the book.)
- Have them sit at the counter or dinner table and read out loud to you while you’re making dinner. When you hear a coherent sentence or are able to catch on to a bit of the story, ask them:
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- Why do you think the character did that?
- Why do you think the author chose that setting?
- What are you seeing in your head as you read that page? Can you connect it to … a memory, experience, etc.?
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- If you can spare a few minutes, you read a page, and then your child reads one back. (totally a negotiating tool – you read one, I’ll read one)
- If you have a book you want to read (yes, get some time for yourself in there), set up a family reading time.
Reading out loud never goes out of style, regardless of the age of your kids. Even I still like to be read aloud to and I’m…well, not going to share my age, but definitely more mature. 😊 Reading at home is much easier when you have great books to read! Here’s a great list of books to add to your library!
