Simple Steps for Raising Readers

By Eleanor Joyce

The ability to read well is probably the most critical element of a good education. Perhaps that is why so many parents are intimidated by the idea of teaching their child to read. “What if I don’t do it right? My kid will be messed up forever!” they cry. And so the hand-wringing, second guessing, and frantic curriculum searching begins!

Just stop, and take a deep breath. Without spending a lot of money, investing huge amounts of time, or sweating buckets of bullets, you can teach your child to read. Both of you can even enjoy the process! The one-on-one interaction of parent and child in the learning experience is priceless, and cannot be duplicated anywhere else. It is pure joy to watch your child’s face light up the first time he sounds out two letters together, or that first time he realizes that he has just read a whole word!

Long before Junior can even hold a book in his hands, there are steps you can take to increase the likelihood you will raise an excellent reader:

Make your home a reading-friendly environment.
Fill your rooms with good quality books and magazines. Building an excellent library need not cost a fortune. Books are readily available at garage sales, library sales, second hand stores, and thrift shops. Great deals can be found online on book closeouts, and re-sales. Remember that your local library is one of the best resources and bargains around! Make it your friend... and visit often.

Develop your own reading habit.
Take time every day to read something. An environment where parents and older siblings are frequently seen reading encourages an early interest in books. Be sure to have colorful, sturdy board books within your little one’s reach. Even if all he does independently for the first several months is to chew on the corners, at least he will have a book of his own in hand.

Read to your baby!
You can get away with reading something like Better Homes and Gardens or The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Sitting snuggled in your lap, hearing the soothing sound of your voice, and seeing colorful pictures is a wonderful experience for a baby. What a beautiful reason for you to sit down and relax too! Soon you can move on to simple, colorful books. Turn the pages slowly, and talk about the pictures.

Remember it's not a race.
Teaching reading is more like watching a flower unfold. Do not try to rush it, and do not stress about it. Let your child set his own pace. Some children will learn to read much later than others. That’s quite okay! Frequently children who learn to read later will make very rapid progress within a few weeks or months.

Keep it simple.
Keep early (and all) lessons short! Nothing will kill a child's love of reading faster than tedious, frustrating, lengthy sessions spent poring over a book or worksheet.

Make their world legible.
While it won’t get you featured in a decorating magazine, try putting labels on everyday household objects. On index cards clearly print words like “bed,” “lamp,” “window,” or “step,” and tape them in place.

Shake things up a bit.
A child who doesn’t have the fine motor skills to use pencil and paper effectively can still learn letter shapes. Try finger paint, or tracing the letter in a pan of rice or cornmeal. Spray shaving foam on the counter and let him “write” in that. Write a letter with glue on construction paper, and have him stick cereal, marshmallows or beans to the glue. Use sidewalk chalk.

Dedicate a song to your little book lover.
After your child learns the “alphabet song”, teach him letter sounds in a song of your own. You can make a poster board phonics chart or book with pictures (either hand-drawn or with art clipped from magazines) and letters printed in permanent marker. Help the child point to the letter/picture as you sing “ah ah apple, b b ball, c c cat, d d doll, eh eh egg”, etc. to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Teach short vowel sounds first.
A child will soon be able to look at “a” and know that it both “makes the 'ah' sound,” and “says its name.” After the short vowel lessons, your child will be able to sound out words like up, it, pot, and (mom’s favorite) nap!

There are hundreds of easy, fun, cheap ways to teach and reinforce reading skills at home, which obviously can’t all be covered here! The point is to enjoy every step of the process as much as you can and to share a love of learning and storytelling with your budding reader.

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by Eleanor Joyce. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Eleanor Joyce is a homeschooling, homemaking, home-working mom who lives with her husband, four children and two dogs. She is the editor of “Molly’s Money-Saving Digest," a popular monthly publication for thrifty homemakers, featuring practical articles and friendly encouragement. Visit Molly’s website,www.Econobusters.com for your free daily dose of cheap and cheerful inspiration.