Tips for Success

1. Look closely at how time is being used in your home if your child is not reading regularly or enough. Being a good reader at this age means doing lots of reading outside of school.

2. Be clever about creating time for reading – allow a later bedtime or excuse children from a chore like washing dishes if he is reading.

3. Discuss bits and pieces of books that you read with your child. Find out about what he/she is reading by asking non-threatening questions like, “What’s happening in your book now?” or “What are the characters like in the book you are reading?”

4. Play games like Scrabble, Spill and Spell, Scattergories, and Balder-dash together – they are fun and they reinforce reading skills.

5. Limit television viewing to 14 hours a week. Gradually reducing TV time can increase time for reading.

6. Make time for the library. Encourage your kids to find different types of books – nonfiction informational books, and poetry, history, travel, and cookbooks – at the library to increase awareness of topics and subjects.

7. Encourage children this age to read to younger children and siblings.

8. Give gifts that encourage reading and writing: reading lamps, magazine subscriptions, books, stationary, pens, and blank books.

9. Agree with your child on the time and place for homework. Make sure your child knows this is high priority. If there are problems staying focused on homework, start a study group, get a tutor, or make a plan.

10. Be confident that it is worth the effort and your child’s complaints to do all it takes to help your child be successful in reading and writing.