Over the last few years, I've worked with hundreds of readers. There is a common theme in all of the struggling and reluctant readers: confidence. You may have seen this problem in your child, but don't know how to help. In my experience there are a few things you can do to develop confidence in your reader. The first and most important way you can develop confidence is to bring down their reading level. If your child is in third grade, check out second grade level books. If that doesn't work, bring it down to first. The key to remember with reading is quantity, quantity, quantity. The quality is of lesser importance. Your child can read educational or classic books in the future. Our goal is to get your child reading right now. When I work with children, we always work below grade level. When I see significant progress, then we'll move up a grade. The next way to develop confidence is affirmation. This may seem basic, but it is imperative. When you see your child working hard on their reading, compliment them. You can also find little ways to affirm them. You can make a chart with stickers and when a certain number of stickers are earned, they can get a reward. I don't recommend a high dollar item. These items can cause too much pressure. The key is relieving pressure~ not adding to it. Finally, develop confidence by exposing your child to something he's familiar with: hunting, skating, cooking, Disney World. It is always easier to understand something if you have a baseline of knowledge. As I've mentioned before, encourage your child to read aloud to a stuffed animal, younger sibling or family pet. The more time they spend reading out loud, more fluent reading will develop. If you have specific questions about confidence in your struggling or reluctant reader, please call me. 334-451-0917
Happy reading,
Susanne
It's so important to draw attention to reading, and attract reluctant readers to it,especially boys. In fact, I've recently completed a feature magazine article on this subject that came out in October, "Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers."
ReplyDeleteI grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.
My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of reading. And my new book, Lost Island Smugglers - first in the Sam Butler Adventure Series - is coming out in June.
Keep up your good work.
Max Elliot Anderson