DON'T LET YOUR RELUCTANT READERS FALL FURTHER BEHIND...Here are some strategies that may hook them into reading:

    

Start with your child's passions. When kids own the choice of what they will read, motivation increases.

Make reading a social experience. Your child may not enjoy reading alone but will enjoy reading with a parent, siblings, friends.

Read aloud to your child. Doing so throughout the elementary grades improves listening skills, builds comprehension, lengthens attention span and grows the imagination.

Use new technology. Children who don't find books interesting may find it cool reading the same texts on smart phones, computers and electronic readers.

Be a role model. Let your kids see you reading and discussing what you've read.

Camouflage reading. Incorporate it into other pastimes like reading menus at restaurants, the directions to board games, or looking at websites.

Make sure the books your child reads are  a"good fit." Many don't want to read because the books are too difficult and frustrating. Good fit books are those which students can read fluently with 95% accuracy. Too many difficult words leads to discouragement.

3 Ways to read...

The Daily 5 structure tells emergent readers there are three ways to read a book: read the pictures (pictures often carry much of the story's meaning,) read the words (to understand what is happening in the book,) and retell a familiar story (pictures and familiar words help retell the story.)

Three ways to read a book gives new readers a couple alternatives to knowing all the words and reinforces the idea that reading is understanding the story, not just saying words.

excerpted from the Daily 5 by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser "the sisters"