All of us get distracted when we are reading; our minds wander on other things, and before we know it, we have forgotten what we have just read. Here are some tips to help teach your child how to stay engaged while reading. He will be a much less reluctant reader when he has “fix-it”strategies to help him focus back in his book.
4 Helpful Tips To Keep Them Reading
1.Stop-Go Back-Check
Have your child jot down on a sticky note the last thing they remembered in their book and post it where they are currently at. Now. have that child go back and find where in the book was his last memory. Have them start to keep track of how far they kept reading while they were wondering. What we know is that good readers stop and re-read when they wander; struggling readers just keep reading, ignoring their lose of focus. The goal here is to let your child know that while everyone looses focus, good readers have a fix-it strategy. In this case, re-reading is one way to keep his mind in his book.
The strongest readers ask the most questions!
2. Ask Questions
Have your child jot down questions as he reads on a post-it note. Then encourage your child to go on a “reading hunt” in his book to find the answers to his questions. When he reads, teach him to stop and listen to the natural questions that come to his mind. Explain to him that by asking questions this helps him to better understand what he’s reading. You can share with your child that sometimes the questions in his head might start with:
I wonder …
Why …
How is (a character) feeling …
I’m not sure why …
How come …
I’m confused about …
While reading together, share what questions come to mind when you are reading. Encourage him to try to answer your questions. Then give him the opportunity to try it on. This is a great strategy for parents to model to their children. Questioning helps readers monitor their understand and stay focused and interested in what they are reading.
Keeping My Mind in My Book
3. Paint a Picture
As he reads, encourage your child to sketch and/or write down what he sees in his mind . When readers lose their mental movie, comprehension is lost. Good readers create pictures about the characters and what is happening in the story. As his mind makes a mental movie, he will be more focused on what he is reading. As a suggestion, my kids enjoyed drawing when they were younger so I had them create a cartoon story board so they could also retell the story to me.
Help your child stay focused while reading
4. Chunk Reading Sessions
Children might need to break up the time spent on reading to smaller focused reading times. This allows students to maintain their self-esteem by seeing success when they only have to focus for short periods of time. Another tip that I have had a lot of success with is handing certain students a “fidget” tool to keep their minds in their books.For some reluctant readers, it would be helpful to have your child set a reading goal. Remember parents most children struggle with focusing during their reading, so praise your child for who they are as a learner and the effort they are making towards becoming a more engaged reader.
