As a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher, I am working to keep my kiddos stimulated and engaged during this period of them being out of school as a result of COVID-19. It’s important to maintain their academic experiences during this disruption in their normal routine. Here are five tips to help you get started with reading with your children at home.
1- Uninterrupted Reading Time- use the books that were sent home from your child’s teacher during the school year. These are great books for your child to read during their uninterrupted reading time. They are already familiar with these books, therefore, they will receive the necessary practice to further develop their fluency and comprehension.
2- Extend Their Reading with Writing- provide a blank sheet of paper for your child to write about the story they read. Have them write what they liked, an alternate ending, something they learned, or about a related experience to the text.
3- Use Technology- there are a plethora of reading websites that will engage your child in a read-aloud experience. Check out these suggestions.
4- Research authors- find the social media and websites for your child’s favorite authors. Have them learn fun facts and check out the provided services that are available to their fans. Alana enjoyed a live session with the author of Pete the Cat during his Instagram segment.
5- Make Reading Fun- read to them, have them read to you, and read a wide variety of books. Use different voices and consider acting out passages from the books. Play dress up to represent the characters and draw pictures to illustrate the stories.
Until next time,
Xoxo