How to Improve Reading Skills

the best way is to do phonic lessons everyday and let him read to you a book that he wants to read. I us abeka phonic books to do tutoring and all of my kids use these.

D.

Keep reading to him every night. It really helps. Also, see if you can find a book(s) that interest him. My son loved the Magic Tree House books, Spiderwick books and Captain Underpants. I can't stand Captain Underpants, but he got my son to love reading!

You might try books on CD as well that he can read along with. They might get him interested in reading something anyway.

Also, check with your local library. Ours has a "Read to a Dog" program that my kids love. Maybe yours has something that your son will enjoy. Get him his own library card if he doesn't already have one. Kids seem to like "being official".

You might also try getting him a subscription to a magazine just for him. Highlights or National Geographic kids, or whatever interests him. They are all fun!

Look for websites with reading games. Check out Starfall.com for one.

Good luck!

I find reading along with books on tape are helpful. My kids enjoy someone else doing the work but are also familiarizing themselves with the words.

I also practice with my kids. It gets tedious for them to read a whole book (and sometimes daunting) so we make a game out of it...I let them read 2 pages and then I read 2 pages. Also, if you aren't feeling good, you should ask THEM to read you a book...time to turn the tables on them! LOL...My kids love pampering me and will do it just because when they aren't feeling good I'll read to them! ;) Turnabout is fair play!

Our school also participates in Acclerated Reader. You should check to see if your school participates in AR or another of Scholastic's reading programs...our school sets quarterly goals and if the kids reach the goal they get to go to a party (movie, swimming, bowling, etc.)...if your school doesn't do this you could look up the books on the AR list on the web and assign a point goal for your child and have your own celebration party! Bottom line is sometimes you need a motivator.

As a volunteer librarian at my child's school I try to encourage the non-readers to not be daunted by reading books for points but to instead pick a book based on an interest they have...it's more likely to hold their interest and keep them reading longer than they ever thought they would.

Maybe try reading outside of the books.

They could write the grocery lists out and read them back off to you when you are shopping.

Have them look for certain stores by the name. How about looking a map and find directions to a certain place, they could read the street names off to you.

Boardgames that require reading skills.

I write short stories for my son and he reads them. He loves it. It's turned into a nightly thing. I will admit they get pretty silly but it makes it fun.

Read together every day. You read a page then let them read a page. Listen to your child read and let them sound out words, don't just say it if they stumble a little. For anyone, any age...Read, Read, Read!!! Read cereal boxes, news papers, signs. Think out loud and maybe say "hummmm...I wonder what...p-u-r-p-l-e... spells" and see how quickly he can answer, or spell things to your kids instead of just saying them... "I don't know about anybody else, but i-c-e c-r-e-a-m sounds good to me." It's fun and you child is proud when they can catch on quickly. If he has trouble, break the word down and help sound it out together. Also, give your child lots of book about subjects that interest him... have reading material everywhere. If your child shows little interest in reading, then read to him...but make it a priority daily. Letting him "catch" you reading for fun also helps. Good luck.

Most school districts have a reading specialist that you can talk to for ideas. There are many aspects of reading - you may want to zero in on the exact areas of weakness and build on them first.

Kumon has an excellent reading program. They are located behind Sam's Club at 135th and Antioch. They will evaluate him for free. My daughter had great success with this program.

As you've read from other posts, keep reading, but don't just send him to a chair with a book alone, have him read out loud to you, a sibling, a pet, and this will let him hear his own voice. It will help him improve his fluency, too.
Good luck!

as my husband the english teacher always says: More reading less tv and video games.
we only allow our son to play video games one day on the weekend and no real TV time in the evening (example: 30 to 45 minutes.

You don't say at what grade level your child is reading or the kinds of feedback you're receiving from his/her teacher, but reading skills can be affected by dyslexia; ADD; or other learning difficulties that many public school systems do not address. If a child is still reversing mirror image letters, like b and d or p and q, by the age of 8, they are likely dyslexic. When children are dyslexic, you can read to them and encourage them to read until the cows come home and not improve their reading skills significantly. They need a hands-on phonics program like Alphabetic Phonics to teach them to read. I do not know what you have available in MO, but in Wichita, KS, we have a place called FUNdamental Learning Center that trains people in AP to tutor children and offers group tutoring to students with dyslexia. They may be able to help you find something in your locale. Their phone number is 316-684-READ. Good luck!

Practice. Read together, take turns reading. Have your child read independently, encourage your child to sound words out and ask if they can't figure out a word. Find a topic or series of books your child enjoys. My daughter loves the Magic Tree House booka and the Junie B. Jones books. One of the ways my school district has worked on strengthening reading skills is having them read a loud the same couple of paragraphs every night for a week then they get a new set of paragraphs...its a teensy bit tedious but I usually had my daughter read me the paragraphs while I was making dinner. Reading everyday and something that is at your childs skill level, if you try and have them read something that is beyond their skill level they will get frustrated. Lots of luck = )
B.

Your advice so far is right on! I would ask his teacher if there are any in class/school reading incentives going on right now...there probably are and if he isn't into reading, he wouldn't tell you about them! ;) Also a lot of schools participate in the Book-It program from Pizza Hut and send home Scholastic Book Club forms...those are really fun! He can pick some books out (usually very reasonably priced) and then he gets them in the "mail" at school. I would also suggest having him pick out books he wants or likes to read from the store or library, EVEN if you think it's too hard or easy for him. The key is he has to be interested. On the flip side, however, I would also find some books that you can read together to help him along, even if you find one that you just read to him every night, like a chapter book that he's interested in. Part of learning to read is hearing books read correctly. You could even think about getting him a magazine subscription to SI Kids or Ranger Rick or something. Lastly, my parents always had us reading out loud in the car. Mostly it was on long car trips, but if you know you have a 20-30 minute drive ahead of you, take a book of poems or short stories to keep in the car and ask you child to entertain you while you drive. Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, and Scary Stories in the Dark are all favorites of that age group. Gaining interest in reading can be really tough, but make sure your child sees the whole family reading something!

Read together !! Daily.
Get comfortable and take turns reading passages from an age appropriate book.

Join you child in KUMON Reading it's great.

Read, read, read!
Read with him/her and to him/her every day. Have your child read to you every day. Go to the library once a week to pick out some fun books. Get some chapter books to read, one chapter a day.
Parents who read for enjoyment set a reading example for their children. Set aside a reading time, for the whole family to take 30 minutes to just read, no TV or other distractions. Then take a few minutes to share with each other about what you've read.
There are some good reading programs for computers to help develop skills, but IMO nothing beats holding a book and reading.
Grandma D.

Hopefully your child's school has a tutoring program as well as Accelerated Reading. (formally remedial reading when I was a kid) My daughter has been envolved in both programs for 3 years now. Nightly reading, asking questions about what she has read also are good tips. My daughter has more comprehension problems due to ADD...but each year she gets closer to her grade level of reading. Finding a book of intrest is key! For my daughter the Twilight Series really boosted her reading this summer. (now in 6th grade)Just keep up the reading and check with the school for programs that can help. Good Luck!