When many people think of Language Arts they think of writing
paragraphs but improving a child’s language arts skills is actually a
group of inter-related skills. There are many ways to improve a child’s
reading skills in the homeschool setting but there are a few that will
be emphasized here.
When you look at reading, it seems obvious that all children need to
learn to read. Reading is vital to learning. The problem is that some
children read at three or four, and others can’t seem to get reading by
sixth grade. Each child learns to read in their own time, and those who
are forced to read before they are ready tend to get frustrated, and
lose the love of learning. Fortunately for homeschoolers, children can
learn to read in their own time because homeschooling is a very flexible
method of schooling.
There are ways to make reading easier and more enjoyable. Sometimes
it is just necessary to get the child engaged in the idea of stories.
To start off, every child should be read to. Hearing the written word
helps the child form pathways in their brain that assist them in the
verbal and written forms of language.
Reading to children also allows them to learn at the level that they
can understand verbal language, and not just at the level that they
learn that the process of reading requires so much energy and so much
attention that the child works on the mechanics, but fails to grasp the
content. By removing the mechanical aspect of reading children can
absorb information just by hearing it.
One other thing that can potentially improve reading skills is to let
the child listen to audio books. By concentrating on the content, and
the weaving of the story, the child can experience literature that is on
level with their interests, understanding, and age levels, even if they
cannot yet read at that level. This also works well for students who
are auditory learners, or who have issues such as ADHD. For ADHD
students, having stories read to them and drawing, coloring, or building
with blocks, etc., allows them to do two things at a time.
Consider that your middle school and even high school student is not
too old to be read to, or to listen to audio books. While they may tell
you that they do not want to be read to, it provides a time when you
build memories together, gain knowledge together, and confrontations are
kept to a minimum. Being able to follow a story that is presented
orally will serve them well in high school and college, when they will
need to be able to listen and pay attention to lectures.
For younger children, reading to them, as you point out the words
also builds reading skills. It allows them to see what words look like,
and to hear what the words sound like. As they build the pathways to
connect words and sounds, they are building the memory of what the words
look like, and even the meaning of the words in context.
One other thing to consider is that children mimic what they see. If
they see you making time to read, if they see you pick up books and
magazines, they will make a connection that you think reading is
important. By showing that reading is important you will encourage them
to read, because it will become important to them as well.
Many people believe that reading is a solitary pursuit, but
regardless of the age of your child it is possible to make reading a
family affair, especially in the homeschool setting because the children
spend more time with the family. And in the end, reading is a key to
learning.
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About the Author
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Linda Warren
Linda is a writer and homeschooling parent of one middle school child. Her daughter used interactive online reading programs, as well as a wealth of books, both physical and virtual. Reading is part of their homeschool on a daily basis. |
True, in the early years children need to be read to.
Parents setting an example to make time for reading helps immensely to make READING a FAMILY HABIT.