Experiences Make an Impact
So many parents I work with understand how smart and intellectual their kids are. We have these kids that have a thirst for knowledge. They talk and talk and talk and talk. These kids have talent and intellect that can’t be measured in traditional classrooms.
The high schoolers I work with learn through experience. They just have to be doing something. Making songs, building dirt bikes, killing it on the soccer field to name a few things.
Typical reading instruction does not pop for them. It doesn’t pop off the page. It does not let the kids learn through experience.
Reading instruction has to begin at an early age with fun multisensory lessons. Targeted games to build strength and confidence. A lot of shared reading and rich conversations about it to. Kids that learn through experience have to have positive fun interactions surrounding reading. These early experiences will shape their self confidence around reading.
(Beware of the more effort, try harder, and pay attention scenarios because they are damaging to kids that struggle with reading. This is a whole other blog post!)
As kids get older and text gets more challenging they still need to experience reading. We need to unlock the text for them by setting our kids up for success. Talk about the topics they are reading before they start. Unlock vocabulary they may not know by helping them build connections. Pair audiobooks with the book itself. Get them hooked on a series and see if there are movies. Never stop reading together and sharing your reading history too.
In my household my struggling reader says negative things about himself and reading. It is mixed bag of comparing himself to classmates and self confidence. I try to point out instances when he is using reading and when he enjoys a really funny book .
This summer I stacked his bookshelf with field guides for bugs, rocks and now Anime. We will see if I am successful helping him experience reading.
Most nights we stay up way to late to squeeze reading in and our screen time is out of control! Cheers to summer…
Melissa Saliva is a Reading Consultant and founder of Beacon Valley Literacy Services. She helps parents help kids with dyslexia.Melissa is the proud parent of a large blended family with a husband, 5 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats and a bunny.
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