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by Amy M. O’Quinn, Home School Specialist for the National Writing for Children Center
Teaching a child to read may seem like a mysterious process—whether the parent is the ‘main’ instructor or simply the home facilitator helping out during after-school hours. We all want our children to learn to read well, because we know that good literacy skills are critical for an excellent education and can open many windows of opportunity in life.
However, we should also realize that children learn to read in different ways and according to various time spans. I know from my own experience in teaching my six children to read that they have each mastered reading anywhere from the age of four to the age of seven—and that is okay. No two children are ever the same and their learning processes will vary. I have simply discovered that consistency is imperative when it comes to teaching a child to read. Patience and encouragement are also key elements in the process—for both the teacher and student!
The most important role we can play in our child’s reading journey is to make them feel successful. When tension mounts and frustration levels rise, perhaps it is time to back off just a bit, take a deep breath, regroup, and remember that this IS a process. Moreover, readiness is also a factor, so don’t worry—just keep moving forward. There is a balance between pushing too hard and challenging our children to take their skills up to the next level. However, as parents, we can normally discern between the two, and that’s why ‘reading’ our children is so important. We want the process to be enjoyable—yet we want them to use their abilities to the fullest! Concentrate on strengths, but consistently (and gently) guide them through their weaknesses as time and readiness permit.
Several factors contribute to successfully teaching children to read:
1. Read to them early and often. Talk with them about what you are reading. Research confirms that hearing language is an important part of learning to read.
2. Stock your shelves with ‘living’ books for all ages. Availability and immersion are important.
3. Repetition and consistency are vital for fluency. Confidence grows with mastery.
4. Model reading. When children see their parents reading, they get the message that books and reading are enjoyable. They will want to do the same. According to Jim Trelease in The Read-Aloud Handbook:
“In concentrating exclusively on teaching the child how to read, we have forgotten to teach him to want to read…Somehow we lost sight of the teaching precept: What you make a child love and desire is more important than what you make him learn.”
5. Remember that reading is a process, and children will learn and develop their skills at different rates. Try not to compare. Start where they are and build a foundation.
6. Find good resources and curriculum materials that work FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD. Just because your friend’s child learned to read with ‘Product X’ doesn’t mean it is the right choice for you.
7. Fill your home with language, creativity, inspiration, and enthusiasm for learning.
I totally agree with what you wrote, but there is an additional component that is essential to help children learn to read. Everyone has their own learning style. I found when I was teaching, that if I was able to identify what learning style each child had, especially the ones that were having problems, I could facilitate their reading abilities. The basics, of course are auditory, visual and kinesthetic and there are hundreds of tests to ID learning styles. However I used observation and some basic activities which resulted in children who really enjoyed reading. I think identifying learning styles is a very important factor.