7 yo, reading, summer, what to do? - Page 2

[ChristaN]

Ah, that I understand. The early reader books do tend to focus so much on teaching phonemic rules and sight words, that the stories are really lacking. I recall being at that point with my younger dd. Starfall really is a good and fairly interesting site if that's where he's at.

The other thought I had, and one I've used with both of my girls when reading books to them that are a challenge, is to do most of the reading myself, but have the child read the title of the chapters and the first sentence on every page and then I read the rest. That way, comprehension doesn't suffer due to struggling through the words and it is still enjoyable and not seriously frustrating.

Another thought is a series of books called, You Read to Me, I'll Read to You. Our library has lots of them. Basically, one pages has a good amount of text for the parent to read and then the next page has much less, and easier, text for the child to read. The really early ones might only have one or two words on the "child" page. The harder ones might have a few sentences for the child to read.

[blizzard_babe]

Find ways to put reading into regular, fun, summer activities. Don't make books/printed word the objective, make them a tool towards a more tangible, "hands-on" objective.

Have him read directions (write them yourself at his level) to a new place you're going.

Cook together, and have him read the recipe (again, at your level if it's too hard). This can be good for math, too.

Build something. Follow written directions to build it.

Write a grocery list and have him be your "helper" at the store.

Write an e-mail to a family friend or relative telling about something fun you did, and ask them to e-mail you back. Get him his own e-mail address (but you'll know the password) if you want.

Keep a "Summer Journal" about the crazy fun of a 7 year-old's summer. Go back frequently and read what he's written. If he's reticent to write, take pictures, and have him caption them so he will remember when he's old and wrinkly and gray.

Hit up the library, but don't pressure him to pick something out if books have become a source of stress for him. Get something for yourself so you can model reading for pleasure at home. Browse the craft section together and find a fun project.

And with that, I'm fresh out of ideas.

[miasandhadleysmom]

My daughter is seven as well and in exactly the same boat. We also declined summer school for the same reason as you. I think everyone's suggestions are really good but another thing that is working for my daughter is having a really fun tutor. We found her at our school but even just a friend would work because what I think my daughter just really likes the one on one time with another adult other than her parents.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Bookworm?

I had always thought that kids will read when they are ready and that no amount of pushing will change that. He is only behind by school standards, not his or mine. I will keep this in mind throughout.

yeah, and they keep changing the standards. He is exactly where he should be. One of my DDs didn't get math at that age. She was reading chapter books but if you asked her was 6+8 was she just got a "deer in headlights" look. She can do math now, and your son will eventually refuse to turn off his light because he is at a good part of novel.

My DH didn't read at all until he was 8. He is an aerospace engineer and is brillant, but he is just more of a math boy.

(Does your son take apart his Christmas presents and spend lots of time with lego?)

Originally Posted by Bookworm?

No, he doesn't read the Magic Tree house books himself. I read those to him.

You might try reading a paragraph, and then having him read a paragraph, and just going back and forth.

BTW, my younger DD only read picture books until she was almost 9, and then she started reading Harry Potter. :

Another fun idea -- let him dictate a story for you to write. Either write it neatly or type it up for him. He can draw pictures to go along with it to. He may enjoy reading his own writing more than reading other people's writing.

[Bookworm?]

Linda, excellent idea about having him dictate a story. We have done that before and he still enjoys reading it. I hadn't thought to do it for awhile though. Sometimes school seems to hinder more than help, y/k? Yes, he does take everything apart and plays with legos alot. In fact he took his own training wheels off his bike when he was 3 and took off on it! He could effectively use a screw driver at 2. He's shown more interest in reading just since my op. He checked out some books at the library and read to himself some while waiting for me. Taking the pressure off and making it fun makes such a difference. I'm looking forward to trying some of the things suggested here. Such creativity! Sometimes my mind gets stuck in a rut.Thanks!

[RomanGoddess]

Originally Posted by Bookworm?

Many of the books that are at his reading level are not very interesting.

Perhaps this is the real issue. You have probably already thought of this but the librarian could maybe recommend books that would be interesting to him and at his level. Not sure but I am thinking something like Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Bookworm?

Yes, he does take everything apart and plays with legos alot. In fact he took his own training wheels off his bike when he was 3 and took off on it! He could effectively use a screw driver at 2.

He is going to do really well in life

He checked out some books at the library and read to himself some while waiting for me.

I don't know if this idea is girly or just kid fun -- I bought aech of my DDs a demin bag and fabric paint from Micheals and they selected iron patches. They decorated their bags, wrote their names on them, etc, and use them for their library books. It keeps everything together and makes it more fun for them. They like to bring their books in car (even if we aren't going very far) and they like to read at read time after I read to them.

He might like non-fiction books, too. Kids can get a lot out of just looking at the pictures and reading the captions.

[elizam]

I agree with all of the positive ideas other posters have had here, and I walso want to point out that a lot might just happen "naturally" over the summer. My ds was a "nonreader" at the end of K and just took off in first grade. I did very little differently with him over the summer. We'd always gone to the library and read together, so that wasn't the issue.

[mclisa]

Is there something that he loves: rocks, weather, soccer, bugs, etc? Find books on that subject.

Use a reward system: if he reads *amt of time* per day after a week he gets to spend time with you doing ____. Time should be the reward, not a cheap toy. Let him choose what he wants: play a game, play cards, extra time with you pitching the ball with him, swimming with him, etc

You might also ask his teacher for books that are usually the favorites at this reading age.

[siddie]

My son just did not like learning to read. It was painful for him and he was embarrassed because other kids read so well and easily even in kinder. We have done library reading programs since age 4 but having him choose the books was too random, his interests led him to choose books above his level of reading so I ended up reading to him which isn't bad but it isn't having him read either. By the end of kinder he was barely reading 3 letter words.

We got the hooked on phonics series and his Dad actually did the whole program from K- grade 2 during the first grade with him and he finally GOT it. We are going to move up to the next level. I think there is no substitute for a caring parent with the right materials. THis is a boy who always loved books and being read to but for some reason he wasn't a natural at reading which surprised me cuz I remember just getting it at first grade and taking off FAST after that with my reading.

[mmarie58]

Listen to book on CD when you are in the car. There are many children's series that help kids get excited about reading. Listening to books is helpful for fluency.

If your son is into sports, see if he would want to collect sports cards. The cards help many children realize that reading does not always mean books.

Subscribe to a magazine he may like (Sports Ill. for Kids? Ranger Rick?...)

I was at a workshop that suggested all parents turn on the closed captioning on the tv (if the kids watch tv).