Working with Children who are struggling to Read and Write

For a lot of children, it can be difficult to read and write properly. It may be that they have some sort of disability that is bringing them issues, or they may just need some extra help. There are many different tests that are available to see where your child falls on the spectrum of reading and writing. These tests can really help see where there is a problem as they will break the reading and writing down into different categories that will show where the child is truly having the biggest problem. Focusing on these areas will help them get the attention that they need in the areas that they need it so that they can at least get to a competent level and a passing standard.

A lot of schools today do a series of testing when it comes to reading, and they keep these tests throughout the year to see how the child is improving. This will show if there is an issue and where the issue is. It will allow the teacher to work with the child, the parents, and a specialist for reading to get them up to speed and where they need to be. These benchmark tests are great for knowing where a child started out at the beginning of the year, where they need to be, and how they are improving with a specialized program if they need one.

One of the best ways that you can help your child increase their reading and writing abilities are to have them participate in library reading programs. There are all kinds of reading programs out there that local libraries and the school library will do with the children. They will have special days and activities sometimes that will celebrate reading, and they will also help children find books that spark their interest and match their reading levels. These are great programs to get your kids involved in so that they are reading more and more. The more practice, the better they will get.

For your older children, you can have them compare a book to a movie. Today, there are a lot of movies that have been adapted from books that children love. Take the Harry Potter series for example, kids love to read it and they have movies that they can watch afterwards to explore the differences in the two and explain which one they liked better and why. A great way to reward them after they have read a book is by taking them to the Cinema or buying them the DVD.

Along with reading, it is also important for a child to build up their vocabulary. To do this, you will want to have your child make a list of words that they found difficult or unfamiliar in the book that they were reading. With these words, you can make flashcards and talk about the words together. Look them up together so that they understand what they mean. Once you've done that, they can be drilled on the words with the flash cards. As they master them, move the word out of the pile as a reward. When they get a certain number of new words mastered, reward them for what they have done. It is a big accomplishment!

You will also want to work with your children on strengthening spelling skills. You can actually use the flash cards that you made for the reading vocabulary for this drill also, that way you don't have to create another set of flash cards, and they will remember and understand these words even better. With these, you will help the child learn the spelling of each of the words, it may be difficult at first, but work with them to spell them out, sound them out, and learn little tricks that will help them get the hang of spelling the words. After you have practiced them, drill them a little bit and have them write the words on paper. See how many they can get right, and remove those ones from the pile. They can take those words and set them in a separate pile that can turn into a reward based on the number that they got right.

Reading and writing are crucial skills and are skills that must be mastered. If you are looking for great drills to help your children master their reading and writing, the ones above should help. Help them become better at reading and writing and watch their confidence build. This new found confidence will help them be successful in all their school subjects. Since reading and writing are fundamental skills, if they do not understand those, they are going to struggle in all aspects of their school work. That is why it is important that parents and teachers work together to help the children that are struggling.