Does Your Elementary Schooler Hate to Read?

Does Your Elementary Schooler Hate to Read?
6 Solutions to Inspire Reading
by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.
Source: Educational Connections Inc.

Many parents of reluctant young readers have tried rewarding, cajoling, and sometimes in the end, giving up simply because their child refuses to read for pleasure. So, what's the trick to get your child to open up a book? The first thing you need to know is that reading comes in all forms, not just in the traditional books that the school has suggested.

Be a Detective
The first step is figuring out what interests your child. Does your son love baseball? Looking at stats on baseball cards and reading the brief descriptions of each player is definitely reading. And so are the articles contained in Sports Illustrated for Kids. Once you get your child hooked, take it one step further by finding related books on the subject. For your baseball-loving boy, consider one of the books in the Matt Christopher series. He's a great author who writes engaging, easy-to-read books about every sport imaginable.

Delve Into a Series
Even the most reluctant readers will latch on to a series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid or will engage in the short passages of The Guinness Book of World Records. It's important not to worry so much about whether or not the book is a classic or even good literature. The point is to get the child reading. And quite often, when a child enjoys a book, he'll seek out the next book in the series or another title by the same author.

Reread a Favorite Book
Interestingly, comprehension and fluency are boosted when the student reads books slightly below his current reading level. If your child tends to gravitate towards easier books, allow him to do so. Moreover, students improve their reading fluency when they read a passage or book three times. Repeated readings help with automaticity, not just at that time, but down the road as well.

Use the 5 Finger Rule
Some parents often make the mistake of choosing a book for their child that is just above grade level. If you're not sure if the book is too difficult, use the five finger rule. If your child mispronounces five or more words on one page, the book is too hard. If he misses four words, reading will be a challenge, but can be done. In this case, it's wise for the parent to read two pages, the child to read one, and so on. Children will find more enjoyment in reading when you use this 2:1 ratio. If only two or three mistakes are made, the book is at the child's interest level and is a-okay. And when your youngster can read an entire page perfectly, the book is likely a bit too easy, but for some very reluctant readers, that is perfectly fine.

Unplug the Electronics
The last step to getting your child to read is to carve out time each evening for reading. That means turn off the television, put down your Blackberry, and have your child put away his cell phone, Nintendo DS, or whatever draws his attention. Even fifteen or twenty minutes before bedtime is enough time to instill the love of reading.

Relax and Read without Criticizing
During this time, lie down in bed with your child or children, relax, and read aloud. Take turns, laugh together, and enjoy the moment. As much as possible, do not correct your child's mistakes unless they detract from the meaning of the story. As soon as kids feel pressured or judged, they're less willing to read. When your child begins to associate reading with evening relaxation and the fun of delving into a page-turning book, he'll be more likely to read independently and for pleasure later on.

Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a tutoring, test prep, and consulting company in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.

We helped to "Build the Reef" at Terraset!

There were many wonderful things to do at this year's Earth Day Carnival, but one of the most lasting was to join in the "Build the Reef" project offered by two wonderful artists, Karen Mullarkey and Ursula Griessel, from the League of Reston Artists.

They have described all at Me, Upcycled. We hope they can join us again next year!

Parents: What if your child is a bully?

Connect for Respect is National PTA’s New Initiative that Provides Parents with Tools to Combat and Help Prevent Bullying

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (March 10, 2011) – National PTA® today launched Connect for Respect—a bullying prevention campaign. Today’s launch coincides with the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention. National PTA will join the President and First Lady the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services at the event with students, parents, teachers and others. The conference will bring together communities from across the nation to talk about working together to prevent bullying.

From describing what bullying is, to how to ensure your child doesn’t become a bully, PTA offers five tip sheets on bullying prevention and more at www.PTA.org/bullying. The site also shows PTA leaders how to create a Connect for Respect event and how to advocate for policies and practices that create a safe school climate for all children.

“PTAs have always played pivotal roles in creating a safe school and community climate but it’s time to step it up because bullying is not just happening on playgrounds anymore. It’s happening everywhere; online, via text, and on social networks. And parents may not know that it’s happening or what to do about it,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President.

National PTA will urge its five million PTA leaders and members to get involved in bullying prevention in their communities by hosting a Connect for Respect event and sharing new resources with parents about bullying, like what to do if your child is a bully.

“Even one child being bullied is one too many. That’s why we created Connect for Respect, to help address the issue and help our grassroots take action on it. By working together, educators, parents, concerned citizens, business leaders, advocates and community members can support the implementation of bullying prevention programs, reinforce bullying prevention messages, and advocate for bullying policies to be implemented.”

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Additional Reading
Signs your child may be a bully