Help your child keep a word bank of new or unusual words that he learns. Buy an inexpensive recipe file box and index cards for this activity. If your child is having problems with his reading, he can write sight words on the cards putting one word on each card. For children without reading problems, the cards could be used for vocabulary increasing words that he might find in his reading. On one side of the card your child should write the word in large letters. On the other side, or below the word, write a sentence using the word or draw a picture showing the word meaning. These cards can be used for sight word practice, word games, or to help in spelling when writing stories, letters, or other writing activities. Put the words in ABC order will make them easier to find and help your child practice being able to alphabetize words.
Almost all children love joke books! They think that the dumbest jokes are hilarious. This can give you an opportunity to get your children reading. I like to take any opportunity to get children to read. Check out several children's joke books from you public library. Encourage your child to read the jokes and riddles aloud to you and your family. (You'll get tired of it much quicker than your child will.) This will give him reading practice in a different genre and format. After your child has read several joke and riddle books, ask him to write some of his own. Most jokes written by your child will probably not be very funny but it will be a good writing experience for him. Also, ask him to draw pictures to illustrate his jokes. What is black and white and red all over? A mom holding her child's joke book!
Here's another way to use your daily news- paper. Children understand the newspaper to be "real world" reading. Ask your child to look for words in the newspaper. First graders can look for sight words or spelling words. Second graders can look for parts of speech, nouns, pronouns, verbs, or adjectives. These words can either be copied on index cards and put in the word bank or they can be cut out. Have your child see how many different types of print or how many sizes they can find a certain word or part of speech. Cut the word out and glue to colored construction paper to make word posters or word pictures. Cut out synonyms of a word to glue in the shape of the meaning of the word. For example, cut out words that name different types of houses and glue them on the paper in the shape of a house.
With the holidays fast approaching, you will soon be thinking about sending out your annual newsletter. Consider letting the children contribute more than just being talked about in the letter. Ask each child to write a paragraph for the newsletter. You might want to assign a certain topic, ie. the family dog, or you might want to let the children choose their own topic. After your child has finished her 'story,' you will need to explain that a good editor makes corrections to spelling, punctuation, and grammar in any story before it is published. Ask your child to help you by searching her story to make her own corrections. Then include it in your newsletter. Your child's work will make your newsletter distinctive and unique, as well as help improve your child's writing ability.
I am a firm believer in teaching children phonics skills. Understanding how letters effect words helps a child have a better understanding of the words. A fun way to show your child how to watch for some long vowel sounds is with the "magic e." This is using a vowel consonant e spelling pattern. Most children enjoy the "magic" of changing a word with just one letter. Short vowel words like kit, tub, or cub can be changed into long vowel words like kite, tube, or cube. Using strips of paper about 3" by 8", fold the paper over leaving a 1/2" edge sticking out. Write the short vowel word on the front with a picture of the word. On the inside write the same word with another picture. Space the short vowel word near the open edge. Write the "magic e" on the 1/2" flap. By folding the "e" over, you can change the word and meaning using your "magic e."