Time to talk TIPS! Let’s focus on reading ACCURACY!
Reading accuracy will help improve reading speed and fluency. It helps create a love of reading and less fear when asked to read out loud.
When a reader is accurate with reading, they are not spending time focused on which words they are reading, but rather the overall message of the text- meaning they can read AND comprehend at the same time.

If you have been following along with the other tips I’ve been sharing, this is where they all come together. So review them if needed.

To help you or your kiddo with reading accuracy here are my top 5 tips!

TIP #1- Read and listen at the same time.
This is a great way for us to learn how to pronounce words, understand sentence structure and punctuation.
We can absorb more information when we have more than one sense involved. (This is why social media, especially videos can be addicting!)
Context is easier to understand when the story/text is being read with emotion and inflection in tone.

I know for me, reading AND listening to someone read the Bible helps me grasp so much more! I don’t get caught up on how to pronounce the names of people and places. I can listen, read and understand without getting frustrated with differences in language. Anyone else?
*This is also why I’m starting to record all this text so you can listen to the tips I’m sharing  Just in case someone learns better with audio/visual.

TIP #2- Have them take reading tests and have open discussions with you.
The internet is a wonderful place to start looking for questions about most books. I often search for random facts about what they are reading (Hey! Don’t judge me! They can read a book MUCH faster than I can AND they are reading FULL NOVELS NOW! Usually novels I don’t care to read anymore ).
Then I ask them silly things like “What was the neighbors name?” or “What town did they shop in?” Just to make sure they are comprehending what they are reading and retaining the information accurately.

Or if it’s a book they’d like to tell me about (this is more often than not), I will listen and ask clarifying questions to understand better. Doing this is helpful for them to put the pieces together about what they are reading or have read. It’s sort of like… a book club (but momma doesn’t have to read the book!)

If you aren’t a part of a book club, you may not understand just how much more you will get out of a story simply by discussing it. It’s a game changer!
So invest in their interests, build that bond and listen to them talk about their book- even if it seems mind-numbing. It’ll pay off!

TIP #3- Have them summarize what they just read by acting it out or illustrating it.
This goes along with #1 and #2- reviewing what they read by using more than one sense.
Art is a fantastic way to ensure they are accurately retaining the information AND it’s something to look forward to, especially if it’s assigned reading.
If you have a kiddo that likes to dress up and act, go that route. Have them pick a character or scene and act away. Or if you have kids more like mine, designing on paper or with 3D art is a better option. It’s a creative way to recall what the point of the text was.
(And you are combining art and language art classes.)

TIP #4- Play reading games together.
This seems like a no-brainer to me, but I have a classroom full of games AND I love language! I’m weird that way.

Games can help with accuracy because a large part of reading is knowing what the words mean. If they can understand the vocabulary, they can cruise right on with reading and understanding.
So focus on word games. SimplyFun has so many choices! (I’m affiliated with them, so if you need recommendations and/or a discount, let me know. I don’t work with them except building my kids’ library, but I own most of their catalog.)

Reading games can be something you purchase, or you can make your own. We love charades, word searches, crossword puzzles, scrabble and much more. There are a lot of online games for free and don’t forget to check Pinterest as well!

TIP #5- Write a story to read a story.
This is a FUN one! We use the Art Cards from PaperPie A LOT in our family! It’s great entertainment and it leads you through so you don’t have to invest much brain power!

Have your child write a story and read it back to them. Write a story and have your child read it back to you. This is a fun way to connect through play and it won’t seem like learning if you do it right. My kids adore this activity and I get to learn so much about their imagination!

Have you ever done any of these things with your kiddos? Which tip seems like the most feasible for you to accomplish?

Talk Soon,

L