Regularly read aloud to your elementary child. Beginning early with picture books and progressing to chapter books. As your child's reading level improves, read more complicated texts such as text in the newspaper, magazines and online content. Reading aloud to your child not only provides a positive role model, but also helps your child to better understand more complicated texts and find enjoyment in hearing written materials.
Ask your child to read aloud to you regularly. Correct your child gently when he makes errors and tell your child the words he struggles to pronounce or read. Show interest in the story your child reads. When a child reads aloud to his parents, who are taking an active interest in what he is reading, he builds reading confidence and self-esteem.
Create a plan for reading at home and implement it. Designate a time of day or day of the week for reading activities. Visit the library with your child regularly and find books that align with your child's interests. Volunteer in your child's classroom and school, showing an interest in her overall academic success. Communicate with your child's teacher about your child's reading level and keep up-to-date on your child's learning objectives, strengths and weaknesses, and progression.
Break down the reading and discuss the characters, theme and climax, and explore ideas the reading provokes. Discuss the beginning of the story, the middle and the end, helping your child understand the order books are written in. Encourage critical thinking by asking your child about the story and asking questions that lead to further discussion or interests. Ask your child to summarize each chapter as it is completed, and to summarize the story at the end.
Storytelling supports reading skills. Help your child come up with stories of her own, whether based on real events or fantasy. Suggest ways to structure the story so that it has a beginning, middle and end. Identify the components in the story that make it a story, such as characters, theme and setting. Have your child write a story or write a story together. Writing a story together will help your child with their reading skills, provide positive interaction with your child and result in a valuable keepsake.
Encourage your child to read more and more on his own. Help him find time that is free from distraction and designate it as "reading time." Giving him a half an hour before bed to read quietly works well. Give your child the option to either go to bed or stay up an extra half hour and read.