Your goal is to raise great readers, but in a world filled with television and video games, that can feel like a challenge. If you’re motivated to make literacy a daily habit, focused reading is here to help.
Focused Reading for Younger Kids
The basic idea behind focused reading is that kids read. Parents and kids can work together to make it happen.
Your role is to carve out a block of time for your kids to spend with books every day. Educators often recommend a 10- or 15-minute span.[1] Over time, this habit will help your kids become stronger readers, and they can increase the time to the recommended 30 minutes per day.
Your kids’ role is to choose their own books. When you give them access to a library packed with engaging titles, they’re sure to find ones that catch their eye.
Focused Reading for Older Students
As your children get older, you can add to your family’s focused reading strategy. Giving your students a goal while reading — something to look for in the text — can increase their engagement.
You’ll find free graphic organizer printables online for kids to fill out while reading. The sheets may ask readers to identify main ideas or list a character’s features.
Another idea is to have students mark the text as they read. A “!” could denote important information, and a “?” could highlight confusing parts.[2] Use sticky notes or a digital journal for this job.
Focused Reading for Struggling Readers
15 or more minutes of sustained reading can be a challenge for some kids, but there are tools that can help. Letting kids select interesting books is a big one.
Others need additional interventions. Some kids do best when they can use a finger or an on-screen guide to follow along with the words. Other children benefit from having most of the page covered up so that they can see only a few words at a time.
LightSail for Reading at Home is ready to partner with your family for daily reading. We have books on nearly every subject imaginable that are just waiting for your readers to discover – including interactive books and augmented reality options. The My Journal feature makes it easy for them to organize their thoughts as they read. For you, detailed metrics provide a record of your kids’ reading experiences. Plus, for families who need focused reading intervention tools, there are endless options to customize each child’s on-screen experience including a personalized reader that can save templates for each device used. The possibilities are endless!
[2]https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/4253/STFOCUSED%20READING.pdf
Posted on 11.Nov.21 in Reading at Home Tips
