reading lessons without paper and pencil

We usually think reading instruction needs paper and a pencil but there are many ways to help your reader while you are riding in a car or waiting in a line.

Sing the ABC song. Knowing the alphabet has many important functions. Even older children need this review.

Your 5th, 6th, 7th grade child needs to be good at alphabetical order. (Exams like to ask students of this age to alphabetize a list of words and often extend the task to the 2nd or 3rd letter: shield / shred and scald / screed, etc.)

Quiz the names of the vowels: Aa, Ee, Ii, Oo, Uu, and Yy.

Children forget which letters are in the vowel group. Your child needs to know which letters are vowels:
1) when changing y to i, such a berry to berries.
2) when adding ed, ing, er, able, as opposed to ly, s, or ment. (different rules for vowels)

Play "I spy." With beginning readers stick with single letters at the start of a word, like p or t. Tell your child you spy something that begins with a p (pretzel)  Ask your child to look around and guess what you "spy." Let your child tell you the first letter of something he "spies," and you guess.   

As your child gets more capable, add things that begin with a double letter, like br (bridge, braces, brown shoes, etc.) or ch, th, sh, wh, pl, pr, and so on.

Have fun with these activities; they will make a difference to your child's reading! 

I now use ebay as my website. Search Instant Reading Help all my books will pop up.

I have created a few books to help your child be a star with the tricky lessons and comprehension. Lots of story-reading and skills practice; lots of color pictures, include my contact info. Be sure your child is ready for any challenge!

Please feel welcome to leave a question or a comment. Thank you for visiting my blog.
Mary Maisner