Discover 3 ways busy parents can build their child's reading skills today and all summer long
Many kids struggle when learning to read.
In 2019, only 35% of kids could read at "proficient" level, according to a popular national test called the NAEP.
As a parent or child caregiver, you want to help your child get better at reading, but it can be a frustrating experience.
- Anger and frustration may bubble up during reading sessions.
- A busy schedule can make you and your child feel rushed.
- You may not have any experience in teaching reading.
These are all common feelings.
Fortunately, there are 3 simple ways you can boost your child's reading skills, even if you're busy, your child doesn't like reading, or you've never taught a lesson before.
Help your child join a community of readers 🤝
Kids enjoy learning when it's social.
When your child gets to talk about topics they love, with kids who share their interests, they'll be more motivated to read.
Outschool's book clubs let kids join a community of learners and also practice reading.
Through it all, they'll have the guidance of a passionate Outschool teacher encouraging them to do their best.
- Does your child love magic and Harry Potter?
- Would they enjoy learning how to draw dragons while getting some reading in?
- Or do they like to learn about famous scientists and inventors?
For these interests and more, your child can join a supportive community of learners in an Outschool book club.
Tap into the topics your child loves 💙
Have you noticed your child spends hours doing what they love - dance, LEGO, drawing - but doesn't have the same energy for school work?
Kids have more motivation when a task relates to their interests.
Research supports this, too. A study from "Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences" found that:
One way to trigger students’ interest in a new subject is to leverage their existing individual interests by presenting instruction in the context of those interests.
In many traditional classes, kids don't get this much personalization.
The teacher may have 10-30 students. Each child has unique interests. It's difficult for the teacher to cater to each child's favorite topics.
However, on Outschool, this situation is flipped.
Each child can sign up for the classes they want to take, based on their interests.
Your child can build their reading skills in a class about LEGO, Minecraft, or dinosaurs.
The best part is that your child is exploring a topic they love. They don't think of it as reading practice.
Browse Outschool's library of interest-based reading classes here.
Get 1:1 help from a passionate teacher 👩🏫
When it comes to reading, every child is different.
While group classes have their benefits, they don't always offer as much individual attention for every learner in the class.
This is why getting 1:1 help can be a game-changer. No matter if your child is struggling to learn how to read, or you just want to help them boost their skills.
When your child connects with one teacher, that teacher will get to know your child's individual strengths and areas for improvement. They'll learn about your child's communication style and interests.
Overall, getting 1:1 support in reading can help your child make progress faster.
Browse all one-to-one reading classes here.
If you're busy, your child typically doesn't like reading, and you're not an expert teacher, then that doesn't mean you have to struggle through this alone.
By tapping into your child's interests, making reading part of a social experience, and getting 1:1 help if needed, you can help your child boost their reading skills, even when school is not in session.
