Once I tutored a girl who was not up to her third grade reading level. After reading together for several months, she was reading at a sixth grade level! Reading with a child is one of the most effective ways I know to not only help children learn to read, but to love reading.
- Make sure you have a book the child will enjoy.
- Change to a new story if it isn't working.
- The child and I sit beside each other, so the child can read along while I read.
- The child gets to hold the book when they read, if they want. (helps them feel more in control)
- If the child is just a beginning reader, then choose a short book with fairly large print and allow the child to read "their words". You can have their words on a card in front of them such as "run" or "no" to remind them. Start with just one or two words and build up until they are reading the story to you. Make sure you read something that has lots of "their words".
- For older children, I choose some part of the story for the child to read.
- I increase the amount the child reads as they become able to read more without becoming frustrated or discouraged.
- They might read one character's part, then increase to reading two or three parts, and maybe the narration, so that eventually I'm just reading a small part of the story. If there isn't dialog, then I have them read the first paragraph, or every third paragraph or more.
- I don't have them just read to me because they get nervous and overwhelmed by the size of the story.
- Having the child read parts helps them focus on the story instead of feeling nervous as they read out loud. Use different voices. Have fun!