Promoting Literacy at Home: Extending Reading Comprehension in Three Easy Steps

August 31st, 2023 /
Spencer Tuinei /
Community Essentials Features, News, ProvoReads, Schools, Student Essentials Features

As parents, nurturing a love for reading in our children is an investment that pays long-lasting dividends. We want to assist parents in this endeavor by offering practical guidance to foster a passion for reading in their children. This article delves into actionable advice, including at-home tips for cultivating a culture of reading, insights into the district’s library resources, and some time-tested, teacher-proofed techniques to improve comprehension and close-reading abilities.

1. Implement Practical Tips for Cultivating a Reading Culture

Lead by Example: Children are more likely to embrace reading when they see their parents absorbed in reading. Set aside regular family reading time to create an environment of shared literary exploration.
Personalized Book Selection: Involve your child in choosing books. Visit the library together and allow them to select titles that resonate with their interests. This autonomy fosters a sense of ownership over their reading journey.
Create a Reading Nook: Designate a cozy and inviting reading corner at home. Fill it with age-appropriate books (that they’ve preferably chosen) and reading materials to cater to different interests and reading levels.
Variety Matters: If your child is reading consistently, try to encourage diverse reading materials, including fiction, non-fiction, comics, and magazines. This practice exposes them to different writing styles and genres, expanding their literary preferences.

2. Unlock District Library Resources

The Provo City School District’s library resources are a treasure trove for promoting reading at home:

Digital Libraries: Access to ebooks, audiobooks, and online reading platforms provides 24/7 reading options, prized for tech-savvy young readers.
Sora: Sora is an accessible, district-approved app offering free ebooks and audiobooks. You can download the app on your child’s Chromebook or personal device and access free books today.
Reading Challenges: Our schools regularly host reading challenges that motivate children to achieve reading milestones. These challenges can turn reading into an exciting adventure. Contact your school’s librarian to see how you and your student can get involved.
Library Events and Workshops: Watch for library events that encourage reading. Workshops for parents offer insights into effective reading techniques and how to select age-appropriate books.

3. Enhance Comprehension and Close-Reading Abilities At Home

Engaging children in reading is just the beginning; you can extend their learning into the future by improving their comprehension and close reading abilities. Here are some optional pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading activities that can boost their close-reading skills if your child is already a regular reader.

Pre-Reading Activities:

Guess and Preview: Look at the cover and pictures. Ask your child what they think the story might be about. This activity gets them excited and ready to dive in and helps your child build predictive skills that will carry over across subjects and standards.
Vocab Exploration: Pick a few tricky words. Find out what they mean and discuss how they might appear in the story.

During Reading Activities:

Pause and Reflect: Stop during the story and talk about what’s happening. Ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” Encourage your child to make predictions about what might happen next.
Visualize the Story: Encourage your child to imagine the scenes in their mind as they read. Or, take breaks to draw a favorite scene in a book, pulling from the book’s descriptions. This technique enhances comprehension and engagement and teaches your child to find and apply textual evidence.

Post-Reading Activities:

Summarize and Discuss: Have your child tell you what the story was about in their own words. Discuss their favorite parts and any surprises. This practice improves comprehension.
Connect to Real Life: Ask your child how the story reminds them of things in their life or the world around them. This technique deepens their ability to think critically across subjects and cultures and can help your child develop empathy for others.

Promoting literacy at home is a joint effort that empowers children to become lifelong learners in every subject. The Provo City School District’s commitment to fostering a love for reading aligns with the belief that every page turned is a step toward personal growth.

By implementing these practical tips, incorporating pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading activities, and tapping into the district’s library resources, parents can empower their children to grow at their own pace.