Last fall, at one of the training workshops I went to, we had a seminar by a very well known developmental neuropsychologist. One of the areas she specializes in is reading disabilities. I heard lots of good information from her, but she did have one point she kept stressing and it applies to all levels of readers.
“The best way for your child to become a better reader is with one-on-one guided practice.” And when asked what her recommendation was, as far as length of time, she said “Twenty minutes a day.” That’s it, just spend 20 minutes a day, reading with your child and you will foster their reading intelligence. Think about it–such a small thing that can make a HUGE difference. Just 20 minutes a day, with one on one guided reading and correction–and your child can become a better reader.
Since then, I’ve been trying to stick to that goal and it’s a nice family routine. Both of my boys enjoy it and it’s always a way to bring them back down to zero, so to speak, when they start to get too wound up. The only painful part is when my 2-year-old asks me to read the SAME book ten times in a row, but that’s just a normal developmental stage. He learns something new each time, even if I don’t, lol.
This particular specialist is Philadelphia based, but speaks nationally. I linked to her site above if want to learn more or hopefully catch her at a local conference.
This Friday is Read Across America–a national initiative to encouraging reading. What better week to start this new habit!
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