1. Make Read-Alouds Interactive

For kids in early elementary grades, reading aloud is an especially important form of reading practice, though you might have to do a little extra to keep them fully engaged.

“Instead of reading straight through the story, make sure you’re really getting them involved and asking a lot of questions about the story and talking about it after,” says Maya Lê Espiritu, an elementary school teacher in California. (Try these six strategies for improving your child’s reading comprehension.)

Lê Espiritu suggests focusing on a book’s pictures and illustrations and pausing to discuss what kids are seeing, not just hearing. Do this and your kids are more likely to get excited about reading, because it makes them a true participant in the process.

The Word Collector is a charming story about a boy who discovers his love of language by gathering and sharing words. It’s not only a great pick for your shared read-aloud, but will reinforce for your child the power and magic of reading.

2. Read the Same Book As Your Child

If you have a child in third, fourth, or fifth grade, Lê Espiritu recommends reading the same book alongside them.

“A lot of times when kids are told to read, it becomes an isolated incident,” she says. Reading the same book alongside your child transforms reading time into a social activity and allows meaningful discussion and conversation to develop organically. 

Plus, if you’re reading the same book, you won’t have to ask basic questions about plot and setting — instead, you can kick the conversation off by sharing your thoughts and feelings about the book, which will inspire your kids to do the same and think critically about what they’re reading. 

Reading the heartwarming best-seller Wonder with your child is a way to get them in a reading groove while inspiring important conversations about acceptance, tolerance, and bullying.

3. Leave Book Selection up to Your Child

Lê Espiritu recommends giving children the freedom to pick out the books they want to read.

“It’s really fun for them to be able to choose,” she says. “They feel like they have more control and participation in it that way.” 

Almost 90 percent of children say they love the books they choose, according to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report. When kids enjoy what they read, they’re more likely to remember details of the story and increase their reading frequency. 

Zen Shortswill open your child’s eyes to a new way of seeing the world. This quietly impactful book, now a streaming series on Netflix, follows a panda in nature as he shares lessons of mindfulness, love, and enlightenment. It’s a great pick for inspiring meaningful conversations.

4. Re-read Your Child’s Favorites 

For younger readers especially, re-reading books is important for reading development. “Every time you read a book, there is something new to notice or point out,” says Lê Espiritu. “Kids establish a connection and a familiarity with it, which really increases comprehension.” 

So even if you’ve read a book to your child more times than you can count, don’t be afraid to pick it up again and find a cozy place to read it aloud. Before you know it, they’ll be noticing details that lead them to topic-adjacent titles!

Where the Wild Things Are isn’t just a favorite of kids. Parents love reading about Max’s wild adventure over and over again, too. In fact, it may have been your go-to book in childhood. (Here are more timeless picture books you can revisit with your child.)  

5. Combine Reading With Learning Activities

One of the most effective ways to get kids back on track with reading is to go beyond the book with fun activities, craft projects, or special outings.

“When reading integrates into your life, it’s impactful,” says Lê Espiritu. 

For instance, if your child is reading an outdoor-adventure book, take a hike together to see what you can find in nature and make connections to the text. For younger readers, help them pick out a popular picture book, and then look online for a craft project or hands-on activity you know that celebrates a beloved character or setting.

The beautiful photos and clever riddles in I SPY Year–Round Challenger! are the perfect warm-up for a real-world I Spy game outside of the house. After reading, bring this book to life by strolling over to your child’s favorite park, the nearest trail, or just around your neighborhood and take turns spotting items.

Get ready for your child to go back to school with our guide — it’s full of recommended books, teacher tips, homework help, and more resources for a successful school year. Plus, take a look at a list of books by grade level and tips to practice reading out loud. 

Reference: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/reading-practice.html?fbclid=IwAR0vD7lOrL_zwwMpmYK7i91NcY_du-SaLdwwR9tCEGCpde17CBuDkMedJVk

Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

Having feelings isn’t a sign of weakness — they mean we’re human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen. Even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Webber Allen felt too ashamed to tell anybody, keeping her condition a secret until a family tragedy revealed how others close to her were also suffering. In this important talk about mental health, she speaks openly about her struggle — and why communities of color must undo the stigma that misreads depression as a weakness and keeps sufferers from getting help.

1. The teacher dreams have revved back up.

Once I dreamed that my appraiser at my first school was my dentist and they pulled out all my teeth with no anesthesia. I’ll let you interpret that one.

2. Your cart moves on its own toward bargain and office supply sections of stores.

Magnetic field, probably.

3. You lie right to your own face to justify your back-to-school purchases.

If I just buy this really nice travel mug, I won’t forget it at school or in the back of my car like I’ve done with 22 other food and beverage containers! If I get matching houndstooth office supplies for my desk, I won’t even need classroom management!

4. You’re already being asked to do stuff.

Sound familiar? “Teachers, please have the following quick tasks done BEFORE Monday’s staff development: Create teacher profiles for yourself on ZinkZonk, BeepSchool, and Swisheroo, read these two articles and have share points ready for each, register for these four PD sessions, and fill out this Google Slide at this link with the attached information about you for new teachers.”

5. Like an Olympian returning to earn their 20^th gold medal, you’re ready to rattle off the universal precautions for handling blood-borne pathogens.

Sometimes I imagine the online program being impressed with my accuracy, like, “Wow, ma’am, we’ve never had three consecutive perfect scores!”

6. You’re doing your own form of preparation before the marathon of this school year.

Teachers prepare differently for the beginning-of-the-year onslaught. Some pack in the relaxation by fitting in one more camping trip or scheduling one last massage. Others try to clear the remaining to-do list items they’ve been putting off, like cleaning out the garage or getting the tires rotated. Some brave souls even plan lessons.

7. Everyone in your home (including you) is ready for you to clear the “teacher corner” out of the living room.

Your cat LOVED it, though.

8. Despite a lot of external forces making teaching a tough gig right now, you can’t wait to meet this year’s group of kids.

(We all know they’re the best part.)

Reference: https://www.weareteachers.com/signs-you-teach-back-to-school-anxiety/?fbclid=IwAR1vTNOOp99_uRjG4TuPaaSGoSBxJwqHAV0RLBIGakBiYGAhYZnTgJJfK0Y