Search for books with your child. Have fun choosing books together.

• • • • Most popular titles on Learning Ally.

      • Mrs. Clark's Class Library.

      • Use this website to get book suggestions and look up A.R. book levels.

Read with or to your child. We are never too old to have some read aloud to us! You might also choose to read something different than your child, and simply sit next to one another while you both read/listen.  (Work documents, newspapers, magazines, books--let your child see that reading is both purposeful and pleasurable.)

Encourage your child to use audio support to help with difficult words and to maintain focus. All students in reading class have access to Learning Ally and are encouraged to use it.

Set an official "reading half hour" in your home. Insist that all distractions are put away/eliminated during this time.

• Set a timer to help keep your child on-task. 

• • Start with 5 minutes, then 10, then 15 . . . until your child can stay focused on a book for at least 20 minutes or more. 

  • Increase the number of minutes each week.

Help your child create a special reading nook or space just for reading. Decorate it with a special chair, pillow, blanket, etc. that evokes positive feelings from your child.

Ask your child to read to a younger sibling, grandparent, or pet!

Celebrate your child's reading successes. We post milestones in our classroom: 10,000 words read; 50,000 words read; 100,000 words read; and so on. Reward your child for completing a book and passing a quiz, for turning in the weekly reading log, for reading more than 20 minutes at a time! You may visit this website for reward ideas: More tips for motivating students to read at home.

Talk to your child about books! Ask which genre or topics your child likes to read. Ask for book recommendations from your child, and then get a copy for yourself. Share the titles of your favorite childhood books. Did you love Where the Red Fern Grows? Maniac McGee? Nancy Drew mysteries? Stephen King novels? Tell your child why you loved those books, and then read one of them together!

If the book that your child is reading has been made into a movie, celebrate by watching the movie together. Ask your child to point out differences between the book and the movie as you watch. 

If your child says there are no good books, please let me know so I can help suggest some titles, too!