Fun ways to encourage reading

FUN WAYS TO ENCOURAGE READING THROUGH EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

There is so much more you can do with your child outside of reading to improve their literacy skills throughout Give Me Twenty (Part of the Pizza Hut Book It program we do every October-March). Here are a few easy ideas you can incorporate into your everyday activities to help your early reader!

Turn up the music

Listening to silly songs, nursery rhymes and even popular hits can improve vocabulary, rhyming and comprehension. Children learn by imitation so repeat their favorite songs during car rides, playtime or anywhere!

Visit the library

Help your child learn to love the library! Set a date to visit the library. Explore the children's section together. Start with finding books on what interests them. Ask your local library how your child can get their very own library card.

Tell them tales

Tell them stories about when you were their age or about family members and friends. This helps connect storybooks to real people and teaches them how stories are structured.

Read while you shop

A simple trip to the grocery store can turn into a real learning experience for your child. Ask your child to help you find a particular flavor by reading the labels. Put your child in charge of the grocery list. As you put items into the cart, ask your child to cross it off the list.

Ask and answered

A large part of reading is comprehension and that can be practiced anywhere. While your child reads, ask open ended questions. Not sure where to start? Check out our Read and Do activities for some helpful guided questions and fun activities!

Book and then a movie

A great way to encourage reluctant readers and bookworms alike is to read a book together, then watch the movie adaptation. Here is a list of movies made from books for preschoolers:

• Where the Wild Things Are
• Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
• Madeline
• Clifford's Really Big Movie
• Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!
• The Little Engine That Could

Write a penpal

Help your child write letters to family and friends or write about their day in a journal. This allows them to play with language and learn how it all fits together. Encourage letter recipients to write back to your child.

Make it special

Look for unusual places to read. Consider quiet places, such as outside under a shady tree, a hammock, or under a tent made of blankets and pillows. How about making some hot cocoa and reading with a flashlight?

Parent Network

Do you know about k12's Parent Network?

Tackling the whole "online school at home" thing can be a big endeavor! The Parent Network is there to provide extra resources and support for you as your student's learning coach. 

They have things like:

-Workshops

-Recorded webinars

-Weekly chat sessions with other k12 parents

If you feel like you need more support or just more out of your k12 experience, you may really benefit from these resources! 

There are a variety of topics included in the workshops and webinars like:

-Managing the challenges of life while schooling at home

-How to teach a phonics lesson

-How to help your students study smarter, not harder 

It really is a treasure trove! Check it out!

http://strongstart.getfueledservices.com/parentnetwork.html