Encouraging Reading
Question:
My seven-year-old son loves math but says reading is boring. I have always read to him, which he loves. However, since he started first grade and knows he has to learn to read, it has become challenging and boring. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can stimulate his interest in reading? He has a great teacher, but she is having trouble motivating him.
Answer:
You say that reading has become "challenging and boring" for your son. Learning to sound out words phonetically, and memorizing sight words that don't follow the rules of phonics, can be tedious, especially compared to the fun of having someone read you an interesting story. It can take quite a while to reach the stage where reading independently is fun and satisfying. And, as with all areas of learning, children vary in terms of the ease with which they learn the basics of reading. If your son perceives that he isn't catching on as quickly as other students, he may try to avoid reading altogether rather than be frustrated or even embarrassed.
You will need to stay in close communication with your son's teacher, working with her to figure out what motivates him and facilitates his learning. If, over time, your son doesn't appear to be benefiting from regular classroom instruction, the teacher may recommend a thorough assessment by a reading specialist. But for now, here are a few suggestions for sparking your son's interest in reading (which you already have encouraged by reading to him) and giving his learning a boost.
*Whatever you do, keep the fun in the reading you do with your son! Read him the stories he loves and, to encourage his reading comprehension, join him in acting out his favorite parts of the stories or drawing pictures to illustrate highlights.
*When you read together, follow along with your finger so your son sees where you are in the story. Especially with familiar stories, have your son fill in the last word of the sentence while you point to the word on the page. (But keep it light and don't make it feel like work. If your son seems to feel pushed, just relax and go on with the reading.)
*Have your son tell you a story--truth or fantasy-?while you print it neatly on lined paper. Then read the story back to him, following along with your finger. This is a great way to help a young child learn the connection between the written and spoken word and discover the fun and power of reading and writing.
*To help your son learn to associate letters with their sounds, make an alphabet book together, letting him illustrate the words he chooses for each letter. Or, as an alternative, make each page into a poster to go on his bedroom wall, perhaps putting up a few each week.
*Ask your son's teacher or the reading specialist in the school district to suggest games or activities that add a dash of fun to learning the basics and allow your son to experience the benefits of reading. For example, beyond the many board games and computer programs that help kids learn to read, children often love to help read simple recipes while they cook with Dad or Mom or read clues in a treasure hunt you create in the house or back yard.
*In all reading activities, follow your son's interests (nature, sports, music ...) and cheer his efforts. Keep it fun, keep it interesting, keep it positive!
Editor's Note: Dr. Martha Farrell Erickson, director of the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth and Family Consortium, invites your questions on child rearing for possible inclusion in this column. E-mail to mferick@tc.umn.edu or write to Growing Concerns, University of Minnesota News Service, 6 Morrill Hall, 100 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
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