Some children avoid reading because of reading struggles, but others may not like to read. This could be related to feeling that reading is just another homework assignment given to them by teachers. Or maybe they just haven’t found a book genre that speaks to them. If a child doesn’t read consistently, they may fall behind in proficiency because they simply aren’t reading enough.

Here’s how to improve kids’ reading ability (and their motivation!) if they are disinterested in books and disengaged while reading.

Let Them Choose Their Books

Teachers in higher grade levels may assign books that the entire class must read. In this case, a child will not have a choice regarding what is read at school. However, reading time at home is a different story…literally!

Parents should let children explore topics that interest them. Let kids pick out their own books. While libraries may be closed during the pandemic, many will let members request books for pick-up. Or parents can download books for use on e-reader platforms.

How can parents figure out what books a child likes? Brainstorm with them! Grab a piece of paper and set a stopwatch for two minutes. During that time, encourage kids to list all the subjects, places, people and ideas that interest them. After the two minutes, review the list together. Then look for books on their level that fall in these interest areas.

Create a Rewards System

Kids may need a little motivation to read, and a rewards system can help. Create a reading program at home that includes both reading goals and reading rewards. Get creative and crafty; design a reading chart that allows kids to place stickers or stamps every time they hit a reading goal. These goals can be set in reading minutes, number of pages read or the number of books read each month. 

Don’t make goals too easy or too hard. Create rewards that are simple and fun—they don’t have to be expensive! Rewards can include extra time for online play, a later weekend bedtime, additional privileges or even small tokens like pencils and erasers. Create a goal and rewards system that works for your child.

Read the Book and Watch the Movie as a Family

If a child is reading a book that has been adapted to the big screen, host a family book-movie night! Here’s the catch, though. The entire family needs to read the book together. Depending on the ages of family members this may mean that everyone reads independently, or parents can read to younger children.

Ask questions about the book after every chapter; talk about the events and characters. Then host a movie night and watch the adaptation. You may even consider munching on story-themed snacks.

Make Sure Kids Read On Their Level

Reading frustration can stem from kids trying to read a book that’s too hard. Maybe they want to read the same book as their friend—who might be on a higher reading level. Encourage children to always read on their own level, and at their own speed. 

Reading isn’t a race, and books should be chosen to fit the abilities of the reader. If a child doesn’t read on their level, they may miss parts of the plot and simply disengage. The more kids read, the better readers they can become…and that means choosing harder books when they are ready! Understood provides guidance on how to find appropriate books on your child’s level.

Turn off the Stopwatch

Yes, your child’s teacher may have instructed 20 minutes of reading a night. Setting the clock, though, may cause kids to see reading as an activity that has to be finished just to run out the clock. A timer also may encourage kids to give up the book when they are engrossed in the plot. If a child reads for an hour on both Saturday and Sunday, they’ve still clocked more minutes than their peers who read for 20 minutes during the week. Kids should read regularly, and they should set weekly reading goals that meet classroom expectations. Forget about the traditional reading log!

Ask for Help

While goals, rewards, interesting books and some creativity may inspire kids to read more, they still may struggle with comprehension or fluency. If a child is struggling, reach out to the teacher and ask for help or guidance.

Your child’s teacher may be able to give advice on how to best help them at home, or the teacher may initiate further reading evaluations. Parents should trust their gut instinct; they know their child best. Sometimes a teacher can provide reassurance that everything is ok, but they also can be the best resource if more help is needed.

Use a Reading App at Home

As many parents are at home with children supervising virtual learning, they may utilize reading apps or reading programs online to help children with reading fundamentals. There are many programs available that are designed to make children better readers or to help struggling readers; investigate the options and utilize trial periods to better understand the program’s features and capabilities.

Readability offers lessons that can help children who struggle with fluency and comprehension. A built-in AI tutor provides assistance if a child has difficulty with pronunciation or if they stumble during lessons. The tutor also asks comprehension questions after each story to gauge understanding. Parents can sign up for a free-seven day trial period to better understand if Readability is a fit for their child; the trial provides access to all features.

Ready to try Readability? Begin a free trial today!

Depending on where you live, Covid restrictions may be ramping up again. Or maybe restrictions have relaxed a bit. Regardless, life as we know it has changed. Many kids faced canceled sports and a canceled in person fall semester, and home is now the epicenter of our limited environment. Television shows, online games and chats may be the way to stay connected. And perhaps these virtual means of entertainment are getting dull and tiresome. Mix up the routine—literally—and help kids practice reading, too. Cook up some reading with your family recipes while kids are stuck at home!  

Yes, reading and following recipes is an easy way to get kids to read and allow them to take an active role in the kitchen. Of course, the end result is great food…and some happy memories.

Ready to get cooking? Here’s some helpful hints on how to turn dinner or lunch prep into a fun literacy lesson.

Pick Your Recipes

Choose recipes that are meaningful to your family. These can be favorite dishes or family secret recipes. Family recipes are unique and can make kids feel connected to their relatives and their culture. When choosing recipes, keep in mind:

Time. Kids don’t have unlimited patience. Choose recipes that don’t try a child’s patience. Fancy dishes that take hours probably aren’t a wise choice. Homemade mac and cheese that can be prepped in half-an-hour is a great choice, though!

Kid-friendly foods. Also choose recipes you know your kids will eat. Or at least try to eat. Choosing unique or new recipes is fine, and it may encourage kids to try new foods. Cooking a recipe gets them involved and helps them feel vested in the meal. If you know your kid is a picky eater, though, it may be best to stick with something they love.

Difficulty. Too many steps in a recipe could cause a child to become frustrated. Cooking together is a bonding experience and it should be fun. Avoid recipes that can overwhelm kids.

Kid-appropriate prep. Some recipes call for a LOT of chopping, cutting, pureeing, etc. If the recipe involves too many steps that aren’t kid-friendly or appropriate for a child, maybe select something else. Otherwise, your child may be sitting on the sidelines bored. PBS offers several great recipes to cook with kids.

Gather the Ingredients

Before you start cooking or prepping, have your child read all the ingredients needed for the recipe. Then go on an ingredient scavenger hunt (sight words may be among those ingredients) to make sure you have everything you need to make the meal. Missing something? Head to the store and have your child help you find all the missing items.

Get Cooking…and Reading

If you’re cooking with more than one child, have them alternate reading the recipe. Or, if you’re cooking an entire dinner together with multiple recipes, designate a recipe for each child.

Let your child read each step of the recipe as needed. Then ask them what the directions mean. Reading recipes requires cooks to comprehend the meaning of those steps; this is why parents should ask questions during the recipe prep.

Have your child help you as you prepare each step of the recipe (unless the step isn’t safe for a child!). If your child stumbles over a word, encourage them to sound it out…and help them as needed.

Measuring and Math

Recipes aren’t just a great way to encourage children to read, but cooking also encourages them to hone their math skills. Let children measure out ingredients; put all the measuring cups and spoons on the counter and let them choose the appropriate option. If they struggle, help them figure out what to select.

Measuring wet ingredients can get messy, and kids will need to pay attention to measuring lines on the cups. Before prep begins, parents should let children look at the measuring cups to see lines and measurements and understand how these tools work.

When recipes need to be doubled, grab a piece of paper and pencil and help children figure out the right amounts. Exercises in doubling recipes may be best suited to older elementary-age children, however.

Celebrating—and Eating!—the End Result

The best part about using recipes for reading exercises is that there is a tasty reward at the end. Kids also may feel a sense of accomplishment after completing the different tasks and directions needed to create a dish. Compliment kids on a job—and a dish—well done!

When the Dish…Flops

Cooking mishaps happen to everyone. A missed ingredient or skipped step can turn a tasty dish into an inedible mess. Maybe the dish was overcooked or undercooked. If your dinner turns into a flop, use it as a teaching lesson.

Talk to kids about what went wrong. Explain that sometimes mistakes happen, and that’s ok. Learning is all about making mistakes. At some point or another, even the best cooks have made a mistake.

When the dish flops, make something simple. Or order out. Then get back into the kitchen and try again. After all, practice makes perfect…in reading and cooking!

Schools across the country have elected to begin the fall semester virtually; while methodologies and online curriculum may vary, parents will need to take an active role to keep kids on target and hitting necessary benchmarks. Parents of struggling readers who are served by an individualized education plan (IEP), a 504 plan or those whose children receive extra intervention for reading may wonder how services will be provided. Administration of these specialized services should be addressed by the districts, but parents also can help struggling readers at home by using a reading improvement app.

Here are eight great reasons why Readability is the best reading improvement app for your child.

Leveled Reading for Every Ability

Readability provides lessons and stories that are appropriate for every child’s reading ability. When a child begins lessons, parents can select the level that is right for their child. The programmed AI tutor also can assess the child’s reading level and set content accordingly.

As the child progresses with reading fluency and comprehension, the tutor will accelerate them to the next reading level. The program will not advance until a child has exhibited fluency and mastery.

Appropriate Content for Struggling Readers

Many children who struggle to read may have difficulty finding stories that interest them or that are age-appropriate. This can cause them embarrassment or maybe even perpetuate reading avoidance.

Not only are Readability’s stories designed to meet every child’s literacy needs, but content is never boring or ‘babyish.’ Struggling readers won’t be forced to read stories that are geared to a younger age-group. All content is age-appropriate and engaging.

Stories are Interactive to Promote Engagement

Engaging stories need to include interactive features to encourage children to immerse in the story and reading experience. All books and stories include interactive features and colorful illustrations.

In addition, auditory learners will love the AI tutor, which helps correct any pronunciation errors and engages children in dialogue about the book (with comprehension questions).

Readability is Expert and Teacher Approved

Reading programs should deliver results, and parents should trust their methodologies, too. Readability is approved by both literacy experts and teachers. Parents can trust that lessons will deliver results and help their child become a more fluent and confident reader.

Donna Nomann-Loomis, a reading expert with a Master’s Degree in Education from Chapman University talked about the importance of reading and the benefits of using Readability:

“Reading is the most powerful key towards success in education. Reading also opens children to a whole world of discovery where they can imagine themselves as doctors, astronauts, artists and so much more. Readability is using cutting edge technology to give children the tools they need to improve their reading and expand their horizons.”

Readability Features Comprehension with IVQA™

Interactive Voice based Questions & Answers (IVQA™) is the comprehension platform that is built into Readability. IVQA is led by the AI tutor; the tutor will ask your child questions about the story. These aren’t simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions that enable a child to easily guess an answer. The comprehension questions encourage children to think deeper about the story and about what they’ve read and understood from the text. If a child answers these questions incorrectly, the system will not move them forward.

The Parent Dashboard Keeps Parents In the Loop

Parents need to know if a reading program is helping their child and meeting their needs. To ensure parents understand their child’s reading progress, Readability provides a Parent Dashboard to serve as the information hub. The Dashboard shows parents how long their child used the program, their reading progress and their IVQA scores. Parents stay informed about their child’s progress and can better gauge the efficacy of the program.

Children Can Use Readability Anywhere

Parents can download Readability on a PC, a laptop, a phone or a tablet. This means that kids can use the program during road trips, at home, while a sibling is at a sports practice, or even on vacation. Use Readability wherever you need it and encourage children to keep reading!

Parents Can Try Readability for Free!

Reading programs are an investment, and parents should feel confident that the program is right for their child…and a good investment for the money. Parents can try out Readability for free for seven days and let their child explore the stories and features of the program.

Children can utilize the AI tutor and read stories during the trial. All features and capabilities of the program are accessible during the trial period. 

Ready to try Readability for free? Sign up today!

Children are great and fast learners. They are often learning and absorbing information without even realizing it.

Many kids learn how to read fairly quickly, but some new readers often struggle with understanding what they are reading. Sometimes it can be an indicator of learning disability, but often it is a matter of not being able to remember what they had read.

If your child is struggling with reading comprehension, you might want to incorporate ways for how to improve reading retention. Reading retention is an important skill to improve in your child’s reading process because it really determines if your child can understand the text. 

What is reading retention?

Reading retention is essentially how much of the text you can remember and recall.

It is important to note the differences between reading comprehension and reading retention. Reading comprehension is understanding and enjoying what you are reading at the moment. Your child is able to read a sentence and immediately understand the meaning of it.

However, reading retention is how much information from the text your child is able to recall later on. 

What are the ways to help my child remember what they read? 

Improving reading retention is simply all about practice, practice, and practice. You can help your child improve this important reading skill by giving them many opportunities and ways to practice recalling information from what they have read.

In some cases, it might also help to give them different ways to review what they have read and even new ways of reading materials.

• Discuss what they are reading – A great way to improve your child’s reading retention is to talk to them several times about what they are reading. This can help you find out what information they actually were able to retain and what information they could not. 

Having discussions about the books and materials they are reading also helps to create a stronger bond between parents and children.

• Repetition – Your child should read texts at least three or four times to be able to learn and remember the information. They should start by previewing the text which includes looking at titles and headings as well as skimming paragraphs or pages.

Then, they should read the text once over just naturally. Finally, they should go back and read the text and make notes or annotations to help them retain information or make note of things they do not understand.

It can take up to 14 exposures for a child to learn a new word, so it is important that they reread texts in order to get as many exposures as possible to improve their memory and learning.

• Taking notes – Note taking and annotations are learning tools that are often taught and suggested to older students and especially in college. However, younger students and new readers can and should utilize these reading tools, too!

Studies have shown that actually handwriting notes can help remember important information better because writing stimulates an area of the brain called the RAS (reticular activating system), which filters and brings clarity to the information we’re focusing on,” according to Maud Purcell, a psychotherapist and journaling expert.

Encouraging your child to write notes and annotations can help them retain the information from texts better and helps them to become a better read overall.

• Writing reflections – Along with writing notes, it is important to have your child take some time to reflect and think about what they have read.

Writing a reflection can also give them a chance to organize the information in a way that is meaningful for them and can help them make connections to things they are familiar with, which can help them retain information from readings better.

• Go slowly – If your child is struggling to retain information from what they are reading, it could help to slow down their reading pace. Instead of having them read a book or text all at one time in one go, break up the reading into parts then have them read that portion, make notes, and reflect.

Then when they are done with that section, they can move on to the next section of the material.

Slowing down the reading process for them can help them find the main ideas and important information easier rather than becoming overwhelmed with all the information being thrown at them.

• Try reading apps – Reading apps can be a great tool to use to get your child to enjoy reading as well as improve their reading retention. There are a wide variety of apps to choose from, but the right app will provide enough practice materials and enough opportunities for exposure. 

For example, Readability is a great app specifically to improve reading retention because it provides several ways for a child to read a story.

Your child has the option of reading the story aloud themselves and the apps listens to them reading then gives your child feedback and error correction. They can also have the app read to them as they follow along.

The app also helps to make sure they retain the information through the built-in Interactive Voice based Questions & Answers that asks them questions about the story.

Improving reading retention early on in your child’s reading journey is extremely important because it is a skill they will need to rely on throughout their education and life. Retaining information from the class readings they are assigned is the primary way they learn new concepts.

Reading retention is a life-long skill that your child will use all the time. So, making sure they are practicing and improving reading retention by using tools such as Readability can make a world of difference in their learning and life skills.

Our classrooms are growing more and more with diverse student populations. In 2017, English Language Learner (ELL) students accounted for 10 percent of the student population in public schools.

Most young students are great language learners and can often pick up the language easily when it comes to listening and speaking. However, reading and writing skills make for some unique challenges for these students.

While the number of ELL students continues to increase, the support for these students is still lacking. They end up falling behind right from the very beginning.

Many students do not receive the support they need in elementary school when they are first learning to read. The best way to address reading issues is to catch them early on and use effective intervention strategies right away.

What reading skills do most ELL students struggle with? 

ELL students often struggle with the same issues as early readers. But, they often struggle with the same skills in a different way.

• Vocabulary – If your child is used to speaking a language other than English at home, they likely learn most of their English vocabulary through media, such as television or movies, or at school. Most likely their vocabulary in their native language is much  more advanced than their English vocabulary.
• Phonemic awareness – Some languages have the same sounds and alphabet as in English while others might not have sounds that exist in English. If they do not have a sound in their native language that exists in English, they will have difficulty learning new words and spelling.
• Fluency – Fluency is the rate that you can read and understand words in texts. It is dependent on a reader’s ability to quickly recognize words and learn words that are unfamiliar, so it relies heavily on vocabulary and phonemic awareness.
• Reading Comprehension – Reading comprehension is being able to actually understand and remember what you read. It is essentially the goal of being able to read, but students that struggle with vocabulary, phonemic awareness, and fluency will find comprehension difficult to reach.
  

How can I improve my reading skills every day?

If your child is falling behind in school because of their reading skills, there are ways you can help them improve every day. Here are some things you can have them do every day that will help see improvement quickly:

• Read often and read a lot – The best way for your ELL child to improve skills like reading comprehension and vocabulary is to practice, practice, and practice. Encourage them to read often and read everything. This does not necessarily mean long novels, but could just be magazines or blogs.
• Choose interesting reading materials – A good way to motivate your child to practice reading is to give them reading materials they are actually interested in. Stay away from books or materials they are already reading in school. Instead let them choose reading materials that interest them.
• Learn the alphabet – For ELL students, learning a new set of sounds and alphabet will be a huge obstacle to overcome to improve their reading. You can help them by reviewing the English alphabet often and even take some time to compare to their native language’s alphabet.
• Build vocabulary – Vocabulary building is important for all new readers, but especially for ELL students. Vocabulary building will help them learn new words and also learn to spot similarities with words when they come across vocabulary they do not know.
• Practice reading speed – Reading speed is also something that can be helpful for ELL students to practice. Reading faster can help them catch up to their peers’ reading level and also helps them with learning other subjects in school.
• Use online tools to help – An important part of learning today is using online tools to help. Online tools such as interactive websites and apps can help your child improve their skills every day at home.

What tools can help me improve my reading skills?

The internet is truly the best gift for learning at home. There are plenty of reading apps and websites dedicated to helping struggling readers of all levels. Here are some of our favorites:

• Rewordify – Rewordify is a great website that helps simplify texts so that they are easier to read. You can input any text you like and it will change difficult vocabulary words to be more understandable.
• Vocabulary – Vocabulary.com is a great website to find specific vocabulary lists and exercises to help improve your child’s vocabulary.
• Dictionary apps– Dictionaries are now in app form which makes it easy for your child to access wherever they are. They can learn new vocabulary words as well as become more familiar with English sounds.
• Readability – If you are looking for a more overall form of help for your child, Readability is a great choice that helps them improve their reading skills without even knowing it. The app has several ways it can help support your child’s reading progress.

First, it can be used like an e-reader or audiobook by reading the story to your child as they follow along.

Second, it can act as a private reading tutor by actually listening to your child read aloud and gives them instant error correction when they mispronounce a word. This can help greatly improve their phonemic awareness.

Finally, this online tool helps with reading comprehension through innovative Interactive voice based Question & Answer. The app actually has a discussion with your child about the story they just read by asking them questions about the story.

ELL students may not get all the support they need in school to help improve their reading skills. But, there are many ways you can help your child improve at home. The most important thing your child can do to improve is to practice reading every day and to utilize tools such as Readability that are made to help improve every aspect of their reading skills.

After a long period away from a traditional learning environment, parents may want to continue to provide educational activities during summer vacation to ensure kids don’t fall behind academically.

Here are a few creative ways on how to improve reading skills for kids this summer…while still enjoying the break!

Chalk the Alphabet, Names & Sight Words!

While the warmer weather usually signals the beginning of pool parties, water parks, beach trips, and outdoor sports, this summer’s recreation options could be limited because of continued social distancing restrictions. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun outside. Grab some colorful chalk, some sunscreen, and find a blank cement canvas. 

Toddlers and preschoolers may not be ready to read books solo, but they can still work on letter identification and sounds. Practice fine motor skills and letters, too, with old-fashioned sidewalk chalk!

Encourage kids to write the alphabet or their names while also bringing an artistic touch to the patio or pavement. Parents also can help children practice their sight words with chalk, too. Just be mindful and don’t chalk property that isn’t yours!

Join a Summer Reading Club

Your local library has probably been shuttered during the pandemic. However, check online to see what resources are available for summer. Libraries may offer reading programs to encourage children to read while on vacation. Unfortunately, many children experience the ‘summer slide—learning loss associated with summer break. Continuing a daily reading habit may help children from losing proficiency.

Some local libraries offer incentives when children hit reading milestones; prizes may be awarded after a certain number of books are read or when a child reads a designated amount of minutes each month. Your library also may have a book club where children all read the same book each month.

Participating in book clubs and reading programs can create excitement about reading, and the extra reading exposure can help a child develop fluency and confidence. Go online to your local library’s web site and see what programs are available during the summer.

Read a Book, and Watch the Movie

Reading together or reading aloud to children still counts as reading! Hearing a story is beneficial (yes, for older kids, too!), and parents also can encourage their child to follow along in the text…or maybe take turns reading chapters.  Pick a book—or, even better, a book series—that also has been adapted into a movie. After you finish the book, have a family movie night and watch the book come to life. Discuss the differences between the book and the movie. Was the book better? Or the movie?

Write and Illustrate A Story

You don’t have to be a professional author to write stories. Sit down with your child and create your own storybook. Have your child tell you a story and write it down together. 

Children who are old enough to write fluently can take the lead in writing the story; parents should help, though, with spelling difficult words. Writing a book together can be a creative way to encourage children to sound out words or to help them with word patterns. Of course, children should illustrate their stories, too!

While creating a storybook isn’t about reading in a traditional sense, developing characters and a plot helps children understand how writing—and books—can bring your imagination to life. This is also a great activity for parents to do with their child…and to assist with spelling, punctuation and other language arts fundamentals.

Use a Reading App

For children who need extra reading enrichment during the summer, parents also can download a reading app like Readability to help with fluency, phonetic awareness and comprehension. Readability features an integrated AI tutor that was designed to recognize a child’s unique voice. If a child stumbles on a word during lessons, the virtual tutor will correct the mistake. During each story, the tutor also will ask questions to engage readers and help gauge comprehension.

Stories are leveled for each child’s ability, so lessons aren’t too easy or too difficult. Colorful illustrations and interactive features help keep children engaged and excited to keep reading. A built-in timer also helps track reading minutes. Parents can track their child’s progress via a parent dashboard.

Not sure if Readability is right for your child’s reading needs? Try Readability for seven days with a free trial!