Homeschooling Excellence

Do you:

Want some tips on how to teach your child to read?
Wish you had suggestions for how to encourage your child to read independently?
Want to know what to do if your child doesn't like a book?
Wonder if your child should read to you or read silently?
If so, then read on.

This article has been abridged for email. To read the full article online, please go to http://www.sonlight.com/excel-four.html?am=he4

Teaching Reading with Beginning Readers
Teaching your child how to read can be quite a daunting task, especially if you have never been trained how to do so. But we are sure that if you take your time and keep an upbeat attitude, you and your child will have a great time as he learns how to read, write and spell.

But we do have two cautions for you:

Don't become so anxious about your child's ability (or apparent "inability") to spell that you hold him back in reading. Spelling can come along in the years ahead. Reading is a skill that will help your child immediately. So even if he struggles with spelling, keep reading at a level he can understand.

While we believe our early reading program provides just about the right quantity of phonetically-correct reading practice for most students, don't be overly rigid in pursuing your phonics program. If your child already knows how to read, don't force him to go through the remainder of the program for the sake of trying to help him read "better"!

How to Encourage Your Child to Read to Himself
The following method has been used very successfully, even in school contexts, to encourage reluctant children to read to themselves.

Each day, set aside a ten- to fifteen-minute period when everyone in the family, including you, will "read quietly."

Make sure each person has a book to read. (Small children can use picture books.)

Let the children pick their own books to read.

Set the timer and have everyone sit in their "own" places and read quietly.


Note: It is very important that you, too, use the time to read. Reading is a privilege, not a punishment! It should be perceived as such.

When the time is up, everyone should be free to go on with other activities if they feel like it.

No reports, reporting or records should be kept of what is read during these "sustained silent reading" periods.

What to Do When Kids Don't Like a Book
Diane in Colorado wrote,

"My 10-year-old daughter is definitely not enjoying this year's selections. Should I insist she get through every reader, choose other books from the same period (I know she would read the Addy books)? I don't want her to think she can quit when it's not her choice of a book. On the other hand, I know I read lots of books in school I hated and I learned nothing from them. . . ."


KC replied:

"I allow for a certain number of books that can be 'discarded' so that the students have some choice (but my number is very low! . . . Of course, each family can decide on its own what is to be the required number of texts to be read). I also insist that a minimum of three chapters is read before even making a judgment about a book--and I may even raise this number. So many books take a bit of getting into before you really get the benefit.

"If we allow our kids to just read what they like, then they are not learning the discipline of attending to their lesser preferences.

"I would try to establish some kind of 'rule' that meets both your requirements for minimum accepted texts for school requirements as well as allowing some freedom in pleasure reading."