If you’ve ever sat down with a child to practice reading you know how hard it can be to keep them engaged, especially if they are younger. It can make for lots of frustration for both the adult and child. We also know that kids need to read and in order to read they need to practice. So, what can we do to make it easier and more fun for all parties?…Games!
Regulation
Before we dive into games, I do want to mention regulation. Before kids can learn in any form we need to ensure they are regulated. I could write an entire blog post and more on regulation, but I will keep this simple so we can get to the games. We want to ensure kids are emotionally and sensory regulated. This means they are in the optimal emotional state to learn, and their sensory input is balanced (not too much light, noise, etc.). If a child has just had a big meltdown they are still processing, still feel upset from falling down, are still mad they didn’t get what they wanted for dinner, etc. they are not in a place to learn, games or not. If they are overstimulated by the light, noises, need to get energy out, etc. they need sensory regulation before they can learn. So, if you are trying all the fun games and it’s still not working, consider their regulation. All kids are unique, their regulation will depend on a variety of factors, remember their needs will be different than your own and than other children too.
Games
OK, onto the fun part, games!! My favorite way to play games for reading is to either make something up from scratch that fits the skill and learning environment, ex: write words on post-it notes to read, post them all over the house, and find them/read them, or to use a game the child is already familiar with and find a way to tie in their current learnings. My phonics board games are a great way to play a traditional board game while also getting some reading and spelling practice. You can find them here. Here are some more of my favorite reading games you can play:
Connect 4
Connect 4 is a classic game that my students always love to play. Here are a few ways you can mix it up to make it a reading game too:
Write the letters (just a few at a time) on each chip and practice saying the name and sound when you come across it
Write the phonics patterns you are practicing, for example “ar/or” and write a word with that pattern on that chip
Write words with the phonics pattern you are practicing and read them as you play. (ie if you’re practicing “ar/or” write words like “corn” “born” “star” “car” on the chips.
Write the sight words you are practicing
Memory/Matching
Memory is a great game to practice reading skills! You can use memory cards you already have and just put a post it note on each one or you can cut up your own. Teachers Pay Teachers also have some great memory/matching games already made. Here is a memory/matching game I like to use for rhyming practice. Much like the suggestions for connect 4 above you can use letters (matching upper and lowercase is a great memory game), phonics patterns, and sight words.
Chalk and Water Balloons
This one is always a big hit! It requires a bit more prep/planning than the other games, but is highly engaging if you have a more reluctant reader. Write the letters or words (sight words or words with the phonics patterns you’re practicing) with chalk on the ground outside. Fill up some water balloons and read the words then throw a water balloon at them. Once they’ve read all the words, they can have a good old fashioned water balloon fight.
Hopscotch
Create a hopscotch game with the letters or words you are currently practicing. This is great for when kids need extra practice to really solidify a skill. Go through the game several times until they are fluently reading each word.
Relay Race
Write the letter or words you are practicing on a post-it note or index card. Go outside and create a relay race. Each time they complete a lap they should read the word on the index card. This game is great for kids who really need to move while they’re learning. Remember, learning does not have to take place sitting down! You can mix it up by doing movements other than running to the other end too, have them crawl, skip, crab walk, walk backwards, etc. to keep things interesting.
There are so many more options than this as well. Next time you are playing a game, think of a way you could tie reading into it. Sometimes it’s easier than you think. I am all for simple but engaging ways to learn. Think of what your child or student already loves to play and find a way to tie reading into it!
Have you ever heard of summer slide? It’s just what it sounds like, kids often slide backward in their learning progress over the summer. Teachers see it all the time, we get student’s test scores from the end of the previous year and then we test again, and most kids have lost some of their learning. Some research says students lose up to 2-3 months of learning over the summer. So, how can we prevent summer slide…and do we need to prevent summer slide? Here’s some tips for both families and teachers:
Families
First, it’s important to think about where kids are starting their summer. Are they excelling? Are they struggling in some areas? Has their progress stalled? Are they more than a year behind? These factors are important because they will help to determine your summer goals.
You might not have a summer goal at all, gasp, maybe playing is the goal and that’s alright. It’s OK to know there is going to be summer slide and be OK with it! You know your family and child best, you have the power to make the choice for you and your family. If you’re feeling pressure to do a million things with your child this summer I hope you give yourself permission to slow down and do what you know is truly in the best interest of your family.
I looped with students on 3 separate occasions when I was in the traditional classroom. This means I taught a group of students one year and then moved up to the next grade level with them the following school year. For my students who spent most of the year on or near grade level, they ended the next school year on or near grade level despite whether they had summer slide or not. This is just my personal experience and who knows it may have something to do with having the same teacher two years in a row-it’s easier to get into a groove when it’s the same group for two years. I do think though, that most kids who are typically on grade level do not have to worry quite as much about summer slide. I will always encourage families to provide learning experiences (which can come in many forms) for their children over the summer and I also know parenting inherently comes with a lot of pressure. Sometimes it’s OK to just let it be.
If you are more concerned about summer slide or your child has continued to fall behind there are steps you can take to help prevent summer slide and even encourage progress:
Summer Routines
This is the most important! Continuing to have some sort of routine during the summer is important not just for academics but also emotionally for kids. Knowing what the day looks like creates a sense of safety and control. Of course, it will look different than during the school year, but it’s important to stick to one that works for your family. Have part of this day be academic in nature. It does not need to be the whole day, the younger the kids the shorter it will be. Think 15-30 minutes for ages 4-6 and 30 minutes to 1 hour for ages 7 and up. Daily reading should always be a part of this (no problem if it’s at bedtime). One of my favorite quotes, “Children become readers on the laps of their parent.” ~ Don’t skip this part, if you can only do one thing, this is what it should be.
To fill this academic time in your routine, focus on what skills you want your child to retain (choose 3 max). For many younger kids (5-8) it is their reading skills. So, I would focus on phonemic awareness, phonics patterns, and fluency. I suggest starting with 10-15 minutes of phonemic awareness, followed by practice on phonics skills: this may be letter names and sounds or long vowel patterns (ai, ee, ea, etc.) or reading multisyllabic words (whatever is applicable to your child). Find fun ways to practice these skills, use shaving cream to write the words, make them with playdough, tie them into a board game(if you need ideas for activities pinterest is great, or check out my TPT store with lots of good activities)! Then, spend some time actually reading books with the skills you’ve been practicing, this is also a good time for sight word practice! If you have another academic area you want to focus on or your child is older I suggest you pick the top 3 things they need to practice in this area. If you are not sure, I highly encourage you to ask your child’s teacher! Stick to the 3 most important things, if you try to do it all it likely won’t be as effective. Remember, consistency is more important than how long you sit down and do the work. Even 15 minutes per day will make a significant difference!
If you are interested in a consultation with me to help you build a routine with a plan, goals, activities, and more you can request more information here.
Summer Camps and Learning Pods
There are so many different types of summer camps! This can often be a pricier option when you want to find more academic based camps. I do encourage you to research and call around. Many camps offer scholarships if they are too expensive for your family. Scholarships are not always stated so I suggest calling to ask if they offer scholarships. Even if you only do a couple weeks of academic camp it can make a big difference! There are some really fun and creative camps out, especially ones that tie in nature or STEM. These can be wonderful for a change of pace from our typical school based learning environments.
Since COVID there are new options that we haven’t had yet before! Many areas have learning pods you can join now. Some of them have hired teachers, and some are run by families. There are a lot of varying options if you’re in a big city. I’ve seen nature learning pods, theatre learning pods, kindergarten readiness pods, and more! This could potentially be more affordable than an academic summer camp, especially if you are willing to contribute to the pods yourself too. You can google, but often the best way to find these pods is via facebook groups. You can search “learning pods in ______” or ask in one of the local parents facebook groups if they know of any in the area.
Learning Apps
There are some really great educational apps out there! I don’t suggest only using them, a big part of learning is social and many times kids can still outsmart the app without learning the concept. These apps can make a great supplement to other things you are doing though! Some of my favorites are: Splashlearn, KhanAcademyKids, LexiaCore5, Starfall, PBS Kids, Teach Your Monster, Lalilllo, and Spelling City. Most of these are free!
Tutoring
If it’s in your budget and you know your child is going to benefit from some extra personalized academic help you can find a tutor. If your child is behind I highly suggest this option, though all kids will benefit from it. When kids are behind they often feel shame or suffer from low self esteem. Hiring a qualified tutor, both in academics and social emotional learning, can make all the difference. A tutor can also be a great option if you are finding academic time between you and your child is a battle. The relationship between a parent and child is different from a student and teacher relationship. If you’re finding yourself in a constant battle when you sit down with your child to do work, considering a tutor to help can be very helpful. They will often have suggestions for how you can work with your child too in a more productive way.
There are tutoring companies, local tutors, and even small groups for tutoring. If your child works well online you will have even more options for a qualified tutor. You can also find many specialized online tutors, google, instagram, and tiktok are all good options to search for a specialized tutor. At Teach Them To Thrive we offer personalized (online and in-person locally) tutoring if you are interested you can get more information here! If you are on a tight budget, Outschool is a newer platform with many cool online classes including tutoring, it is often a more affordable option. You can also check around your local community, schools, churches, etc. for some possibly more affordable options.
There are so many options for addressing summer slide if you are interested. Do your research and reach out to teachers and tutors if you want some guidance. We offer tutoring and are also available to work with families to build a realistic plan and routine if you want to do it yourself. We will help you set goals, find activities, and create routines.
Teachers
Talking to families about summer slide can be stressful, especially if you know the child will benefit from more intensive summer support. We often give out the “summer packet.” I hated taking the time to put them together and I’m fairly certain less than 50% of those are ever touched during the summer months. So, what can we do instead?
Educate families on summer slide. Not all of them know it can happen. Especially for the students you know are right on the cusp and need that consistency in the summer. I always try to start with connection and understanding, “I know it can be difficult to fit in reading time over the summer. You have a lot going on and that’s really hard. It is also so important for _____to have consistent practice everyday so they don’t lose learning. A little bit everyday will make a big difference.” Starting with understanding and connection allows families to know you see them and their needs too. Oftentimes this helps them let their guard down if they might have one. Let families know you want their child to be prepared and confident in the fall and that if they do not practice over the summer they will lose some of the skills they have worked so hard for.
Help them pick 1-3 things to focus on. Get specific. Don’t just say, “work on reading.” This is vague and could end up being pointless if families don’t know how to practice the skills their kids are working on. Let them know exactly what they need to work on-comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, adding within 10, counting, etc. This will give them a specific goal to work on this summer. Create 1-3 small and specific goals with families.
Help families to create a routine around learning time. What will the warm up be? The teaching points? The practice time? Where can they find good activities to do? What apps can they add in to supplement? I always emphasize that doing this consistently everyday will make the biggest difference. Do small chunks of learning each day rather than only a few really long spurts. Our brains are not wired to remember things taught in this way.
Give a few suggestions for resources. I send a list of apps they can use, and links to some fun activities. I also encourage families to look on pinterest for fun ideas. Families are more likely to do them if they have found the activity themselves and feel it will be fun for them.
