Parents want to do everything they can to help their children learn to read. Parents often turn to online programs to help with their child’s reading. It’s great that parents and children can work on their new skills together. How can you choose the best program for your child and make sure you’re not wasting their time?
It is essential that children learn to spell correctly. For most children, learning to spell and to use vocabulary is a difficult task. Parents often don’t know how to best help their children overcome obstacles to learning to spell.
Learning to read will be one of many important milestones in your child’s life. It is also one of the hardest to achieve. You will probably work on this for quite a long time and remember it forever. How can you teach your child this important concept? These tips will help.
These tips may prove to be useful.
1. Practice! You won’t get far by just acknowledging the difficulty of the task. However, it is a great first step. To improve, you will need to spend time each day practicing the words, letter combinations and sounds.
2. Slow down: If you take on too much material, your child may rebel. Break up the material as much as possible. Do not try to include too many new facts in your practice. Don’t forget to review the material that was previously taught along with these new skills each day.
Before you begin, make sure your child knows the sounds of each letter. You won’t get far if your child only knows how to order the letters. You can find many great programs to teach your child the essential phonics that is so important for prereading.
3. Don’t Forget the Sounds. It is important to say a word, or sound out loud before you spell it. It is essential that your child can recognize sounds and pronounce words correctly. Encourage your child to recognize patterns by working with sounds and spelling.
4. Using a variety of techniques is important. Learning to spell doesn’t just happen through memorization. There is more to it than simply testing your child’s memory of words. You can improve your child’s spelling skills by experimenting with different techniques. You can try new things with every new concept, word or sound. You might find something that works for your child.
Refer to the print as you read. Point out the print when you and your partner are reading a book. When you read, run your finger over the words or highlight important words. This will help them to better understand reading.
5. Don’t Forget Games: From manipulatives and online learning systems to fun games, you can teach your child how to spell using many different methods. Magnetic letters, Scrabble and other word puzzles, as well as crossword puzzles, are all great options. Online learning games can help your child to become a more proficient speller.
Labels are not always accurate. Even if a program has some of the most effective marketing materials, just reading the label could lead to trouble. Not all fat-free foods are good for your children, and not every program that claims to be able teach your child to read will work as well they claim. Look for an option that is backed by solid research and has proven results to show its ability to help your child learn valuable skills. Consider sites that have received awards from other websites, or those developed by teachers and researchers.
Try the Software: Many software programs have a free trial period where you can try out the program or play some online reading games with your child before signing up for the full-version. It is a good way to see if the program can be useful to your child. You might even have your child play some of the games and see how well they interact with it.
Slow down. Pause if your child has trouble with a difficult word. Before you correct your child, take a deep breathe. If he can’t, then you should try to help him. Don’t be afraid to praise him if he finally gets the word.
Speak to others: You probably know many other parents. You can ask them what online reading programs they use for their children. Speak to parents at your child’s sports events, school or church. Ask parents who have children older or younger than you to see if there are any other avenues for help.
Select books that are interesting and appropriate for your child’s level of reading. Your child will be interested in certain topics. There will be topics and characters that your child doesn’t enjoy. Make sure to choose interesting topics and that the reading level is appropriate. If a book is too difficult or too easy, it will frustrate your child.
Follow your instincts. If you think a particular program would be beneficial for your child, then go with it. You may not want to choose a program if you don’t like the way it sounds or if it doesn’t seem right for your child. You know your child better than anyone else, and you will be able to tell which online reading programs are best for your child.
Consider reading programs that offer kids interactivity and personalization. There are many brands on the market, but picking the first one off the shelf won’t work. Do some research on reading programs that have been proven to work by academics.
You can find many great programs to help your child learn to read, but you need to choose one that works best for them. It should be an enjoyable, rewarding experience because reading is a skill that you want your child to enjoy.
