Quick Click: 7 Ways to Build a Better Reader for Grades 3-5

Try these simple strategies to make reading a lifelong habit for your child.

Settle in for a lifetime love of books.

Read aloud with your child. Find a comfortable spot where the two of you can read together every day for about 30 minutes. Take turns reading chapters from a book for pleasure, or read books that are above her reading level but are about things that interest her.

Encourage all reading. Comic books and magazines can provide a good reading experience. As long as they are age-appropriate, don't discourage his interest, but keep a stock of high-quality books in your home so he has other options easily available.

Keep a dictionary handy. Together, look up words she doesn't know and invest in a dictionary she can use on her own.

Use informative books. Encourage reading for information. If he has a science report, help him find books for his research rather than only going to the Web. While the Internet is an easy resource, teach him that books are often more detailed.

Discuss the books. Ask your child what an author's main theme is, how characters are alike or different, what she likes or dislikes about the story, and how it compares to other books she's read. Share your own thoughts.

Expect plateaus. Following some big leaps in his progress, your child may stay at the same reading level for several months. Keep encouraging him and offer praise.

Set a good example. Read for your own pleasure and information every day at home, in a room without television.

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