One of the most important things parents can do at home is read with their students each day, but working with young readers can sometimes be a challenge. Helping young readers, while also making it fun, is the key to keep it light, useful, and struggle-free!
Here are some tips and resources to help parents get those young readers reading at home!
1. Reading Tips and Strategies Handout
This two-page handout has ideas for before, during, and after reading activities as well as strategies for helping readers when they are stuck. Perfect to copy front to back and send home during back to school, conferences, and more! Click HERE to grab this handout, which comes in Spanish and English!
who are working with young readers.
2. Comprehension Questions and Cards
These cards have questions for both fiction and informational text that focus on primary/elementary reading comprehension standards. I also have these same questions in a handout form.
Asking and answering questions and talking about their reading with these cards are fabulous ways for parents to practice and improve reading comprehension at home with their children.
I include these questions as a handout in my Take Home Reader pouches…read more about those a little farther down!!
make answering questions FUN!
3. Don’t Forget Bedtime Stories
Ideally, this has been a tradition since the child was an infant, but that’s not always the case.
Sending books home or reminding families of the importance of this beautiful tradition is great for at-home reading.
If you have a classroom communication app or if you send homework assignments, put it out as a question…“What are you reading for your bedtime story tonight?”
4. Reading Calendars
Weekly or monthly reading calendars help families focus on fun and engaging reading activities.
Read an informational text, read the directions for a game and play it, have someone read to you, and more! It may give the family a reading idea that they would not have thought of.
I’ve had many parents thank me for resources like this because it gives their child a task from their teacher and often avoids any parent/child arguments or struggles.
can help young readers focus.
5. Send Books Home
Several years ago, I wrote a grant for Take Home Books and Pouches and was lucky enough to receive the funding from the Junior League of Las Vegas. Check out local organizations in your town for grant opportunities. Read more about my Take Home Reader Program HERE.
For families who do not have books or do not have books at the correct level for their emergent reader, these weekly books are a lifesaver. And, for my ravenous readers, they get new books to take home each week without parents having to constantly buy or checkout books!
I send five books per week home with my students in their take home pouch.
If you’re not able to send books, I know many reading programs have blackline masters to copy and send with students, so that may be an option for you. Just get books in their homes!
6. Reading Bingo
Similar to a reading calendar, these bingo boards can turn reading into a fun challenge or a game with various reading “tasks”. These can be part of homework or just part of students’ regular reading routines.
Grab these boards FREE in my store to help your readers with their at home learning!
7. Online Reading and Literacy Programs
Many schools have access to online reading programs such as Lexia or Reading A to Z.
There are TONS of free ones out there too, such as Starfall and Epic. Sometimes, they require a teacher account to be set up and then the teacher can send login information home to families.
I hope this will help you help your classroom families! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try to help!
Grab this FREE Homework Alternative Handout to send home with students during breaks from school!
Happy Teaching! Jennifer
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