The following is a list of tips and tricks that I have learned over the years to help me with my students who struggle with reading. Some are very simple, and some are more complex, but all are effective in helping children read better.
I think it’s important to point out that this is not an exhaustive list; we can do many other things to make our teaching more effective.
For example, I use a lot of different strategies to teach phonics, including whole language, sight words, word families, sentence strips, etc. But these are just some of the ways we can improve our instruction.
Tips to Practice Reading for Kids
1. Read to your students
This seems like common sense, but it isn’t. Many teachers don’t read aloud to their students because they feel self-conscious about doing so or haven’t been taught how to read effectively.
Reading to your students will help them learn to recognise sounds, develop good listening skills, build vocabulary, and increase comprehension. It also helps to create a positive environment where children learning reading is fun!
2. Use pictures
When I first started teaching, I was told by one of my colleagues that she didn’t want to show her students any pictures at all.
She felt they would be distracted from what she wanted them to focus on if they saw something beautiful. I thought that was ridiculous. If anything, showing students images should help them understand concepts better.
So, when I started teaching, I began using pictures as much as possible. My students loved seeing pictures of animals, food, people, buildings, and even objects. They could see the picture and then look up the definition later.
3. Teach phonics early
Phonics is the foundation of reading. Without solid phonemic awareness, students won’t know how to break words into meaningful units. Teaching phonics early allows students to become familiar with the sound system before they start reading.
Students will begin to notice patterns in the way letters appear together. By the time they get to kindergarten, they should already be building a strong foundation for reading.
4. Make sure your students are ready to learn
Many times, students enter school without being prepared to learn. We must work hard to ensure that our students are ready to learn when they come to us.
To do this, we need to assess each student individually. Are they ready to learn? Do they understand the material we are trying to teach? If not, why aren’t they ready? What can we do to prepare them?
5. Provide lots of opportunities for students to read
Students shouldn’t only read during class time. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day for students to read. You could give them books to read while waiting for the bus or walking home from school. Or maybe they could read after recess. The possibilities are endless.
6. Don’t force children to read
Children who struggle with reading often have difficulty understanding what they are supposed to be reading. As a teacher, you must remember that every child learns differently.
Some children love to read, while others hate it. If students don’t enjoy reading, don’t push them to do it. Let them choose whether or not they want to read.
7. Be patient with yourself
As a new teacher, you may struggle to figure out how to teach reading. That’s okay. Take your time. Try different methods until you find ones that work best for you and your students.
8. Ask for feedback
One of the most important aspects of teaching is getting feedback. Not just from parents but from other teachers too. Find someone who knows more than you do and ask for advice. You might be surprised by what you hear.
9. Practice makes perfect
Every time you teach a lesson, try to make it better than the last time. This means practicing your lessons repeatedly until you have perfected them. Once you have mastered a particular skill, you can teach it quickly and easily.
10. Get creative
Sometimes the best way to teach something is through play. For example, instead of having students read a book, let them pretend to be characters from the story. Have them act out scenes from the story. Then, when they are done playing, discuss the story’s events.
11. Use technology wisely
Technology has changed so much since I was in elementary school. It is no longer enough to show students pictures of words on a whiteboard simply.
Today, we use iPads, interactive whiteboards, Google Docs, etc. These tools allow us to create engaging learning experiences for our students.
12. Keep up-to-date
You are reading instruction changes all the time. You probably learned about reading using an old whole-language method when you started teaching. Now, there are many new approaches to teaching reading. Whatever approach you take, stay current with the latest research.
13. Remember that everyone learns differently
Just because one person learns well at age five does not mean another will learn well at age 8. Everyone learns at their own pace.
14. Encourage independent reading
Most people tend to prefer to learn things through reading rather than listening. However, some people learn better if they listen to information instead of reading it. So encourage your students to read independently whenever possible.
15. Read to your students
Reading aloud to students is one of the best ways to help them learn to read. It also helps develop good habits for later life.
16. Give your students choices
At the beginning of the year, it is important to establish clear expectations for behavior. But, once those expectations are set, it is important to allow students to make decisions for themselves. They should always have the option to choose whether or not to follow the rules.
17. Make learning fun
Students enjoy learning when they feel like they are accomplishing something. If you can incorporate games into your classroom, you will increase student interest and motivation.
18. Don’t forget to reward good behavior
Even though children naturally want to behave well, sometimes they need a little extra incentive to keep doing what they should be doing. Reward students for good behavior with small treats such as stickers or praise.
19. Create a positive environment
Children thrive when they feel safe and secure. Make sure your classroom is free of distractions and clutter. Also, please ensure students know they are respected and valued members of your class.
Conclusion
To conclude, I hope this article helped answer the question: “How do you practice reading?” The answers above seem obvious, but teachers and parents often overlook them.
As a result, students struggle to become proficient readers. By taking these steps, however, you can ensure that your students become successful readers.