Books can be good teachers, entertainment, an escape into another reality and the source of arm chair adventures. Ask any bookworm and they will be glad to inform you that one can never have too many books. Unfortunately while books allow us to hone our imagination, today multimedia is a lazier alternative.
Most children, homeschool students or not, tend to get lured in by the attractions of videos, and interactive websites. They prefer to chat on social media than to sit off line with a book. Trouble is, most of them have not been introduced to the charm of reading early on.
Tips to Get Your Elementary Grade Homeschool Students Interested in Reading
# Kids love to imitate what they see adults around them doing. If you as the parent are seen often enough with a book in your hand and a snack next to you, they may decide that it’s worth copying.
# Get them age appropriate reading material. Yes the book you love so much is wonderful, but your homeschool student is not yet at the age where he can appreciate it. Start with simple picture books and work your way up to stuff that you love and wish that your child would as well.
# Give them a choice. Don’t force them into reading books that you feel will be educational. It’s perfectly alright to read the graphic novel version of Shakespeare’s To Be or Not To Be.
# Read out loud to them. There is nothing like sharing a book with your homeschool student. They will enjoy the quality time activity as it entails everyone’s attention is on the same thing. Plus if you make it a regular feature, they will look forward to the book and snack time.
# Reverse the roles. Have your homeschool student read out their favorite book of the week or month to you. Ensure that all the siblings get a chance to share an excerpt out of the book that they like.
If you start them off young on reading books, they will find it easier to stick to the habit later in life. It’s a habit that they will thank you for.
