Make a shopping trip a reading game. When you take your child with you to the grocery store, ask him or her some of the words on the food packages. Yes, some of their "reading" will be from the pictures but in pointing out which word is "cake" you will be reinforcing the word to become a sight word for your child. As the child's reading increases, ask him to read the directions on the box or the ingredients labels. Combine it with math to see how many boxes your family needs to have enough servings for dinner.
Read to your child often. Researchers tell us that reading aloud to your children is important for their reading development even after they become readers themselves. Think aloud as you read to your child so he or she can understand the process. Saying things like, "I wonder what they will do next," or "I think that would make me feel very sad" can help your child see that the reading process involves more than just calling words.
Back in the "olden days" when I was in elementary school, reading comic books was considered terrible. Today, most teachers will agree that the important thing is to READ. Take time to read the "funny papers' with your children. There are several fun activities you might want try. One is to cut your child's favorite strip into seperate boxes. Ask your child to put them into the correct order. Another fun thing is to cut the words off (after you've read it, of course). Ask your child to make up new sayings for the comic characters. You might even provide extra paper and glue to have your child create his own actions & sayings for the characters.
How long has it been since you have played alphabet games? These can be played anywhere, in the park, in the car, etc. One such game is "I'm going on a trip." Pick a fun place to go and decide what things you will take with you. Alphabetically, of course. I'm going to California and I'm going to take an apple. The second person in the game has to repeat what the first said and add an item that begins with a b. The next person repeats all the items being taken and adds something that begins with the next letter. This game helps in understanding ABC order, improves sequential memory, and promotes thinking skills.
Is your child more interested in sports than he is in reading? Help him learn basic sight words by playing games in a sports format. You can get a word list from his teacher that should have words he needs to know or use words from the Dolch Sight Word List. Print or type the words on cards or sheets of paper. Cut them so that there is only one word on each card. Using a file folder, sheet of paper, or cardboard, draw the lines on the football field with goal posts on each end. Take turns drawing cards and reading the words. For each word read correctly, the player moves to the next yard line. When each player crosses the goal line, he makes a touch down and receives 6 points. The winner is the one with the most points after a predetermined time limit.
Help your child keep a diary or journal of special events. This can be done in a spiral notebook or you can make it a special activity by buying an inexpensive journal or blank book at the store. After a birthday party, sleep over or outing, ask your child to draw a picture and write about it in her journal. Kindergarten age children can draw a picture and dicate a few sentences that mom or dad writes down. In first grade, your child can begin writing a few sentences on his own. By second grade, your child should begin telling about the event in more detail. Saving the journals will provide special memories as your child grows, as well as, allowing you to see your child's progress.
Reading a TV guide or newspaper listing of TV schedules involves both reading and math. Help your child find when his or her favorite shows come on. Point out how to find the channel listings printed across the top of many schedules and the time down the left side. To help your child see how the listing goes across and down, use a sheet of paper or a ruler. Lay the paper beside the channel grid and another below the time. Run your finger down and across to the point where they connect. Ask your child to read the name of the show to you and the time that it comes on. Then the next time your child asks what's on tv, hand him the newspaper!
It always seems more fun to play a game than to do "work." That's true for children and adults so make practicing sight words a game rather than just drill. Write sight words or other words your child needs to learn on index cards, pieces of construction paper, or old gift wrap paper. Cut these the size of game cards. Make two sets of the cards.They can be used for a variety of games that you and your children can play with while learning. Play "Concentration" my placing about 20 cards face down on the table or floor. Turn cards over one at a time to find matches. After turning over 2, if they do not match, then turn them back over & the next player takes a turn. Each time the player finds a match, he should read the word. This game will help with improving memory and sight words. You can also play "Go Fish" with these cards.
