How to Help a Struggling First Grader with Reading

Encouraging a young child to read will start them on a life long enjoyment with books. Unfortunately, reading can be a struggle for some children, and this can discourage and turn them off to reading altogether. If your first grader is discouraged by reading, it can change their whole outlook on school since most everything they will do there involves reading. Even young first graders a fearful of failure, and it is this fear that can contribute to the struggles they have with reading. Since you are your child’s first teacher, it is up to you to help put the joy back into reading.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Encourage a consistent reading time in your home. This should be unrelated to the child’s homework time. It should be a special time devoted to reading books the child is interested in.
2. Take a trip to the local library. The library may have special reading programs and activities that you can bring your child too, and this will help your child become excited about books. While at the library, have your child choose books they are interested in and that are appropriate for their reading level.
3. Create a game out of reading, by taking turns. Start out by telling him you will read the first word and they will read the next word. Eventually move on to you reading one sentence and they read the next sentence, and so on. Remember to praise their success.
4. Use flashcards to encourage memorization of common pre-primer and primer words.
5. Make a reading chart. For every reading activity your child completes, they earn a star that they can place on the chart. Choose a specific star goal for them to reach, and if they meet it by the end of the week, they earn a reward.
6. Play computer based reading and phonics games. You can even find these types of games on various websites. Ask your child’s teacher or reading specialists for website and software recommendations.
7. Read to your child. Children love listening to stories being read to them. You can even record yourself reading your child’s favorite stories so they can listen to them on their own.
8. Writing encourages reading. Have your child create their own stories with pictures they draw. Then staple them together and make a mini-book. Encourage them to show off their masterpiece to friends and relatives.
9. Make sure your child sees you reading for fun. Since parents are the very first teachers in a child’s life, they will follow your example. If you read for fun and enjoyment, they will want to emulate you and your reading habit.

Tips & Warnings

• Struggling to read might also be due to a learning disability. Speak with your child’s teacher and look into having your child assessed so they can be afforded the proper tools to help them with their struggles.