Speech Language Pathologist

Boys, as a group, tend to like nonfiction books.? This is because they like to have an immediate use for what they have read.? In addition, nonfiction books have more charts, graphs and photographs which help boys visualize what they read.? Dr. Wilhelm, PhD., professor of reading at Boise State University in Idaho, says that boys have a harder time than girls imagining fictional worlds.

1)? Boys love weird and wonderful fact – Guinness World Book Records and almanacs

2)? Realize if he is looking at comic books, cheat codes for his favorite video games, or baseball stats, he is reading.

3)? Visit www.guysread.com.? This website was set up by Jon Scieszka, author of dozens of cool children’s books including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, lists “boy-approved” books.

4)? Remeber that boys are more likely to reject something that they are not assured of succeeding at – understanding a complex novel – for example – in favor of something they think they’ll be good.? So give him books on topics he loves.

5)? Seeing, feeling or tasting what you’ve been reading about makes it more powerful.? Make connections between the books you son reads and his life.

Reading newspapers and magazines, trivia books and even celebrity or athlete biographies gives all kids a reason to like reading.? Nonfiction reading is now a requirement of most careers.

Children with limited vocabularies often stumble while reading and can’t keep track of the story.? To help increase your child’s vocabulary visit www.eduplace.com/flakeout or www.m-w.com/dictionary and click on “word of the day” or “daily buzzword” for kids.? 1) Give the correct definition with a couple of made-up ones and have the family vote on which one is real.? 2)? Have everyone in the family try to fit the word into a conversation at least 2 -3 times during the next 24 hours? 3)? Look up the word as a family in the dictionary? 4)? Have discussions about new words you hear during the day.

Schools now require children to read at home each night.? If that’s a struggle in your house, try these strategies:

1)? Create a special place that makes reading cozy.? Choose a place that is comfortable for your child not what you think will be comfortable.? It might be a corner of a room, under a table, on a bunk bed, a comfy chair or a bean bag.

2)? Find a funny book.? Even reluctant readers can’t resist a funny book!? Try the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, Stanley’s Wild Ride by Linda Bailey or The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman.

3)? Have good lighting where?your child reads.

4)? Say “The dishes can wait” and settle in right next to your child to do some reading of your own.

5)??Check-out audio books from the library, rent them at recordedbooks.com, google Tumblebooks and go to a site that offers them ( www.mcalester.lib.ok.us -then click on ONLINE SERVICES then scroll down to TUMBLEBOOKS)??or www.storylineonline.net.?

Begin by reading the story aloud to your child.? Notice words that are commonplace in your lives or have special meaning such as dog, bed, or book.

Highlight those words with a light-colored marker.? Next time you read the book, trace the sentences with your finger from left to right.? When you reach the highlighted words, stop and let your child “read” them with you, then on his/her own.? Soon your child will associate the sound and spelling of the words with the objects themselves.? If your child is old enough to read, alternate by having him/her read one page, you the next.

Read books and stories that you really enjoy.? Since you will be reading them over and over again, your child will recognize?your enthusiasm or lack thereof.

Alyssa (my daughter)

Alyssa and Logan

My Family

Logan (my son) and friend