Trying to figure out ways to help your child read fluently or begin reading can be frustrating at times. Maybe as a parent, you are just wondering how to get started. Over the years, as a teacher, I’ve had many concerned parents ask how they can help their child in reading. Here are a few of the nuggets I’ve shared over the years.

1. Read Aloud to your Child

Reading to your child is essential because they need to hear what a fluent reader sounds like. Your child will have a better sense of rhythm and intonation when they hear you read. Also, it helps students learn new vocabulary words and improve comprehension. Make reading to your child something that you do consistently. You can even schedule it as your child’s weekly “Family Story Time.”

2. Have your Child Track

Often times when students are struggling or learning to read they lose track of the sentence they are reading. Tracking helps train their brain to read from left to right as they process sounds in words. One way students can track their reading is to put their finger under the words they are reading. As they become more fluent readers, tracking will become natural, and they may not need to track as they get older.

3. Teach Phonics Sound Patterns

While memorizing words is not bad, students need to know phonics sound patterns to decode new words. For example, if students understand the vowel team “oa” says the long o sound, they will be able to read the words like boat, float, and coat, even if they have never been exposed to those words.

The goal is to help students master phonics sound patterns so they can decode new words independently, especially students with learning disabilities. This will essentially help their reading fluency.

4. Make Reading Fun

There are so many creative ways to make reading fun. You can create a cozy reading corner in the house where your child would enjoy going to read books. Fill the reading corner with books that have topics they are interested in.

You can also create games like word scavenger hunts around the house to make reading fun. There are also online games to help add fun to reading like Splashlearn.

5. Seek the Help of a Tutor

Sometimes, there is only so much you can do as a parent, and you may need to seek the help of a professional to help your child in reading, like a reading tutor. Most tutors are experts in their field, so it’s a WIN for you and your child. You can leave the lesson planning to someone else. Click here if you are interested in our reading intervention tutoring services.

I hope this was helpful! There are so many great ways to help your child read more fluently. I know that life can get busy as parents, and while you may be unable to incorporate all the ways discussed, choose one that will help impact your child. Any small step will make a difference in your child’s reading journey.

Stay tuned for more valuable reading content!

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