| The progress your struggling readers have made this | | | | break, your students are sure to come back ready |
| year can be far too easily undone in one summer | | | | to keep reading for the next school year... and for |
| spent in front of the television. A few days ago, we | | | | the rest of their lives. |
| posted some ideas for helping parents successfully | | | | 15 Summer Reading Activities for Struggling Readers |
| teach reading at home, adapted from a 2003 article | | | | * See a movie that's based on a book. Then, read |
| by Linda Baker. What Baker's research also noted, | | | | the book together. |
| aside from the importance of teaching reading at | | | | * Encourage your child to read for fun by reading |
| home, is the importance of motivating struggling | | | | entertaining books, newspapers, and magazine articles |
| readers to read at home. | | | | together. |
| If students are motivated to read, they're likely to | | | | * Have your child read the recipe as you make |
| keep reading and progressing on their own. But | | | | something fun, like a favorite family dish. |
| without the extrinsic motivators your classroom | | | | * Ask your child's teacher for printouts of books |
| provides-things like recognition, grades, and | | | | from Imagine Learning English. |
| competition-your readers might do significantly less | | | | * Read stories out loud, either to your child or with |
| reading (and make significantly less progress) over | | | | your child. |
| the summer break. Luckily, your students will have | | | | * Encourage your child to explore new interests by |
| access to another powerful motivator: their parents. | | | | signing up for a sports team, summer camp, or even |
| Parents can play a vital role in helping their children | | | | a fun summer class. |
| develop an intrinsic motivation to read, Baker says. | | | | * Then, find books and magazine articles about his or |
| And best of all, they can do it without extensive | | | | her new interests and read them together. |
| training in literacy education. In fact, Baker's research | | | | * Have older children read out loud to their younger |
| indicates that one of the most valuable things a | | | | siblings. |
| parent can do for a struggling reader is teach him or | | | | * Make reading together enjoyable by focusing on |
| her that reading is not just useful, but enjoyable. By | | | | the meaning of what you read rather than focusing |
| simply providing reading materials, reading in front of, | | | | on reading accuracy. |
| and reading to their child, parents are able to | | | | * Talk to your child about things he or she has read |
| accomplish this. | | | | in school or at home. |
| Helping children develop an intrinsic motivation to read | | | | * Get a library card and help your child check out |
| will not be easy for parents. Encouraging fun, informal | | | | books related to his or her life and interests. |
| reading might seem counter intuitive, especially to | | | | * Play board games that involve reading, and include |
| parents of struggling readers who tend to focus | | | | siblings and friends whenever you can. |
| more on reading accuracy. So, we've created this | | | | * Ask your child's teacher to recommend books. |
| handout as a resource for parents who want to | | | | * Have your child watch reading-focused television |
| know how to make reading enjoyable for their child - | | | | programs on PBS. |
| and for the rest of the family, too. With | | | | * Make reading a family event by having 15-30 |
| encouragement from their parents over the summer | | | | minutes of family reading time every day. |