Ways to Improve Reading Skills

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day - even in the summer. Studies show that regular reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschool or pre-teen, it will increase their desire to read independently. Don't forget vacations and summer - research shows that young readers who don't continue to read over the summer are likely to lose crucial ground the following year.

2. Surround your children with reading material. Children with a variety of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazinesat their reading level. Put the reading material in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the T.V. Use the computer to help motivate your child to read. Websites such as funbrian.com, Starfall.com, weeklyreader.com, are great for young readers.

3. Have a family reading time. Establish a daily 15 - 30 min time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 min. of daily practice is sufficient to increase their reading fluency.

4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities. Make reading an integal part of your children's lives. Have them read menu's, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie times, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time when they could be waiting fir appointments or riding in the car.

5. Develop the library habit. Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials. The library also offers reading programs for children of all ages that may appeal to your children and further increase their interest in reading. Summer Library Program

6. Be knowledgable about your child's progress. Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. The school's curriculum will give you this information. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests.