Reading is an essential life skill for everyone. Reading is an integral component of learning and education everywhere in the world. Some children develop a reading habit by the time they reach the second grade. However, this is not true for everyone. Some children need more time or practice than others to learn to read quickly, accurately, and with expression. This is not a difference in cognitive ability or a question of skill.
Every child can learn how to read quickly with just a little bit of effort. Here are some tips that you can use to help your child read better and to become a faster reader –
1. Stopwatch Reading
Stopwatch reading is a simple technique designed to develop attention, fluency, and reading comprehension. Ask your child to read a passage aloud in a set frame of time. Make sure that they are reading as fluently as possible while you time them using a stopwatch. Notice where your child faces a problem and help them improve.
2. Marked Reading
Sit together with your child when they read a passage. Mark the places where they make a mistake or fumble with a pronunciation. After they are done, make them practice those words and phrases to improve fluency. After a while, you will see the errors reducing as they gain confidence.
3. Re-reading Favourite Books
Re-reading books that children love is a great way to develop fast reading skills. Many parents and teachers discourage children from reading the same books repeatedly to expose children to new information. However, if a child is accustomed to reading a particular book, they will read with more confidence, speed, and fluency.
4. Read Difficult Paragraphs to Them
Sometimes, the most important thing to help children develop a reading habit is to read with them. Take the lead as the more competent reader, and whenever you see your child getting distracted or facing a problem with a difficult passage, read it aloud to help them and hold their interest. When you see a simpler part, encourage your child to take the lead.
5. Sit Together to Read
A simple way to teach that reading books is a good habit to sit and read together with your child. Point to the words with your free hand and read aloud. As your child gains confidence or begins to enjoy reading, they will eagerly take the lead.
6. Use a Dictionary
Keep a dictionary handy when reading and look up words together with your child. This habit will help them learn how to use a dictionary and also build their vocabulary as they read.
7. Reading Subjective Books
To help your child develop fast reading skills, encourage them to read more than just storybooks. Include interesting books about science, geography, and other subjects in your child’s library. Such books can help them learn more about the world around them as they read.
There are many ways to teach your child how to read quickly. Experiment with different reading methods and find what suits your child best. With just a little effort, you can help your child become a faster reader and develop a reading habit for life.
