The better a child reads, the more he will read. The more a child reads, the better her reading skills will be.
But why does reading matter?
Better readers tend to enjoy more academic success in every subject, higher incomes as adults, and even better relationships. Encouraging our children to become better readers should be a primary goal in our homeschools. I’m passionate about children not just learning to read, but becoming avid readers. I’ve written about encouraging reluctant readers here and here and I’ve authored curriculum to help homeschool parents build better readers and writers.
But first, I want to give you some ideas you can use today to help your child read well and love it for life.
This post is in a series of posts called 5 Ways to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader. Of all the posts in the series, this is the most critical. Giving your child a steady diet of delightful fiction and nonfiction is one of the best things you can do as a parent. Fortunately, providing good books doesn’t have to be expensive. The library is free, many Kindle titles and other online books are free, and friends’ books are free to borrow.
Book Choice Warnings
Before I share 6 ways to find books your child will enjoy, I want to give you a couple pieces of advice about book choice. First, remember that your child may have much different tastes than you did as a child. Insisting that your child read specific titles you loved isn’t the best way to encourage independent reading. I will share more about this in a future post, but for now, allow your child the right of refusal for books that are to be read for pleasure.
My second piece of advice is to treat books like you would movies or video games: research them before buying them or checking them out for your child. I’m not suggesting you read every book before your child. I have never had time for that! But when it comes to titles you’re not familiar with, it’s good practice to review them. I have been absolutely horrified by the content of some children’s and teen’s books I’ve looked over lately. Unfortunately, in an effort to get kids reading, some publishers have been giving kids what they think they want, rather than what is best. Book awards and five-star reviews are no guarantee that a title is appropriate for your child. A quick way to avoid serving your child the equivalent of “junk food” in a book is to read the 1-star reviews on Amazon. These reviews are usually by parents who will give you the objectionable content, so you can make an informed decision.
6 Ways to Find Books Your Child Will Enjoy
1. Search for titles similar to those your child has enjoyed.
Whether your child read a book himself or enjoyed one you read aloud, you now have a key to finding more great titles. Here’s how.
Find titles with Amazon
Enter a book title into Amazon’s search and scrolling down a bit will pull up a list of books customers have also purchased. My boys have all been crazy about Calvin & Hobbes. Checking the other books customers purchased for this title includes more Calvin & Hobbes titles as expected. But continuing to click the right arrow gives me these suggestions to consider.
Find Titles Through Your Library’s Catalog
I searched for Charlotte’s Web through my library’s online catalog and got these recommendations with a reason why each title was selected.
Find Titles with Read Kiddo Read
While the database isn’t nearly as broad as Amazon’s, Read Kiddo Read also suggests titles based on books your child loves. Here are more recommendations based on Charlotte’s Web.
2. Search for books by movies your child has loved or wants to see.
Even if you don’t enjoy reading the book after you watch the movie, your child might! Did your child love the Minions movie? Maybe that was just me. 🙂 Look at this cute junior novel to entice your young reader.
Is a new movie coming out that your child is dying to see? Get the book and have him read it before seeing the movie.
3. Search by age / grade level and gender.
Find titles with Amazon
These were the top two results on Amazon books for 2nd grade boys. Note the 5-star reviews! Books in series are an excellent choice. If your child likes one, he will want to read the rest.
Find titles with Goodreads
The same search on Goodreads produced two lists that others are voting on, giving you even more social proof.
Find titles with Pinterest
Searching for 2nd grade boys’ books produces individual pins like this one as well as boards on the topic that are worth checking out.
There are a number of books that recommend titles for your child by age and sometimes by gender.
3. Search by topic
What does your child spend the most time doing or talking about? Think your child spends way too much time watching TV and playing video games? There are books about these topics too! Check out these titles from a search for Minecraft, for example:
Use the Guys Read Site to Find Books on Topics Boys Will Love
I love that the Guys Read website makes reading seem macho. 🙂 Go over the topic list with your son. Anything sound interesting? This is just a sample.
Find Books with Get Epic
Epic is a free reading website (and app) for educators (the company is open to homeschoolers gaining access) that asks about your child’s interests and then makes book suggestions. The beauty of this website (besides the fact that there are audio books supporting text) is that kids can check out many titles quickly. Here’s a sample of recommended titles:
4. Find Titles That Meet Kids’ Needs
Kids, like adults, are motivated to read for the information they need. Are you taking a trip? Give your child a book on your destination and ask them to decide what they would like to see most. Are you expecting a new baby? Try a book on babies or being a big sister. Would your child like to earn some extra money? Find a book on businesses for kids or on the skills they will need to develop for that business. Would your child like a pet? Suggest a book on the care of that pet before you bring it home.
Does your child find reading difficult? There are books that address that need too! Check out the list on Reading Rockets. This is a sample:
5. Ask Your Child’s Friends for Their Favorites
This is my favorite tip. If your child has a friend who loves to read, ask him for his favorite titles in front of your child. Ask him why he likes those books and ask if you could borrow them, if he owns them. Having boys (in particular) share their love for books is really powerful. But my daughter has loved sharing books with her friend, too.
6. Spend Time at the Library
Your local librarian knows what books are popular with kids and should be able to recommend titles based on your child’s interests. Many libraries put award-winning books in prominent locations. Check this site for 2015 award winners. Just remember my warning from above!
But even without asking for help, your child is bound to find something of interest to her if you spend enough time around the books (and not at the computer station). Whether you just let your child peruse the children’s section until something catches his eye or you participate in a scheduled book talk, the library is the perfect place to find great books.
It’s important to note that audio books are books, too. They build vocabulary and aid word recognition in printed books. Ask your librarian how to access audiobooks online if they they have them available.
Do you have any other tips for helping your children find books they would enjoy? Please share them.
I was amazed by the response to my 6 Crazy Easy Crock-pot Recipes post. I really thought people would be put off by how simple the recipes were, but they loved them! (Scroll down to get five of the original six recipes.)
So I decided to share six more crazy easy recipes. My family loves these! And I love that dinner is ready early in the day in just a few minutes’ time.
If you want even more dinner time sanity, click to download my Plan to Eat shopping listfor these recipes AND the original recipes. You could even double the whole list and have meals planned for the month. I am substituting an easy recipe for the award-winning chili recipe on the original post. So you’re actually getting seven new and easy slow cooker recipes. Are you ready to get cookin’?
SUBSCRIBERS>> You already have the shopping list in your Subscriber Freebie folder linked at the bottom of this email.
This is so very satisfying if you’re a Mexican food fan. Avocado isn’t essential and you can easily sub Mexican shredded cheese for queso fresco and salsa for pico de gallo.
Serves:4
Ingredients
1 lb.uncooked chicken cubed
1 c.uncooked brown rice
1 can(10 oz.) enchilada sauce
1 can(4 oz.) chopped green chilies
1⁄2 c.chicken broth
1 mediumonion chopped
1 tsp.cumin
1⁄4 tsp.salt
1 avocado
1 c.pico de gallo
1⁄2 c.queso fresco crumbled
OPTIONAL – 1 c. non-fat plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream
Directions
Spray your Crock Pot with non-stick spray (use a liner instead!) and add the chicken, rice, enchilada sauce, green chilies, chicken broth, onion, cumin and salt.
Stir to combine and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Serve topped with pico de gallo, queso fresco and Greek yogurt.
We love all things buffalo and this couldn’t be an easier way to enjoy the spice!
Serves:12
Ingredients
3 lbsraw boneless skinless chicken breasts (the original recipe used frozen breasts but I used them unfrozen, so it appears you can do either)
12 ozbottle of Buffalo wing sauce (I used Frank’s Wing Sauce)
1 oz packetdry Ranch mix (I used Hidden Valley)
2 tablespoonslight butter
Directions
Place the chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Pour the bottle of wing sauce over the top of the chicken. Sprinkle the packet of ranch mix over the top of the wing sauce. Place the lid on your slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-9 hours until meat shreds easily.
Remove meat and shred it using two forks. Return shredded meat to the sauce and add the butter. Stir to combine. Continue to cook on low for another hour so the meat can soak up the sauce. Serve however you like!
The epitome of easy! Just pour barbecue sauce on the frozen chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Use a mixer to shred chicken. Pickle slices optional.
You can add frozen veggies to this and serve it over biscuits you make in the oven too.
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 6 hr
Total Time:6 hr 10 min
Serves:8
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoonsbutter
2 (10.75 ounce) canscondensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packagesrefrigerated biscuit dough torn into pieces
Directions
Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.
So easy, cooking-phobic people will be happy to make it.
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 4 hr
Total Time:4 hr 10 min
Serves:4
Ingredients
4 lemons
3 headsgarlic
1 whole chicken 4 to 5 pounds
Fresh rosemary or any fresh herbs
All-purpose steak seasoning or salt and pepper
Directions
Cut garlic heads and lemons in half and lay in bottom of slow cooker.
Cut the bottoms off the lemons so they lay flat.
Add a sprig of rosemary, or any herbs.
Remove insides from chicken, rinse chicken and pat dry.
Season chicken well, inside and out, with all-purpose steak seasoning or salt and pepper.
Lay chicken on top of garlic and lemon slices and stuff the chicken with a garlic head cut in half, and a lemon cut in quarters.
Cover top of chicken with additional lemon slices and rosemary.
Turn slow cooker to high, and cook for about 4 hours, or until chicken reaches 165 degrees. Slow cooker cooking times vary. Important: Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
When chicken has reached 165, turn off slow cooker and let chicken rest for about 15 minutes.
Remove from slow cooker, carve and serve.
Liquid from slow cooker can be strained and served over chicken.
Halve roast and place in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine the soup, consomme, broth and bouillon; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender.
Remove meat and shred with two forks. Serve on rolls. Skim fat from cooking juices and serve as a dipping sauce.
Have you ever asked your kids to write and heard groans in response? I have! That is until I started encouraging my kids to write funny stuff. Suddenly writing was fun!
Humorous writing not only motivates reluctant writers, but aids memory and learning. Kids (and adults) remember funny material better.
The first step is to give your kids permission to use humor. Even the blandest writing prompts can be hilarious when young writers feel free to let their funny creative juices flow.
The second step is to give them prompts that are related to what is going on with them. I did my master’s thesis in psychology on humor and learned the obvious: relatable humor is funny! Depressed people will laugh at depression jokes, for example. So give the kids writing prompts about fall in the fall! Can’t come up with anything? No worries! I’ve got you covered. You can either use the writing prompts that follow in your homeschool or classroom verbally or you can use the colorful printables with handwriting lines available to subscribers.
The third step is to be flexible with the form of writing. Allow your students to dictate their writing or type it depending on their level. By the way, I don’t think there’s an age range for these prompts.
Funny Fall Writing Prompts
If I were a leaf, I would like to fall on_____________because________________.
Jack Frost is a mythical character who is said to create the frost we see on windows. Name and describe a character who is responsible for leaves changing color in the fall.
Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper from Johnny Appleseed, admitting that you didn’t exactly plant all the apple trees, even though that’s what everyone says.
Write a paper to convince people that your favorite kind of apple is the best.
Write a story about a squirrel who thought it was spring when it was fall.
Write about what happened when a horse who was allergic to hay pulled a wagon for a hay ride.
Create a recipe that includes pumpkin that really shouldn’t include it.
If you were a talking jack-o-lantern, what would you say?
Write a poem about fall the way Eeyore of Winnie-the-Pooh would write it (it doesn’t have to rhyme).
Write a poem about fall the way Tigger of Winnie-the-Pooh would write it.
Write a letter to hunters as though you were a turkey wanting to live.
If you served all of your favorite foods for Thanksgiving, what would be on the menu?
Download Your Free Funny Fall Writing Prompts Printables
Can you say that subtitle three times fast? 😉 In the PDF, I share more tips for encouraging your kids to write humorous material. You’ll get a printable page for hand-written work for each prompt. You’ll also automatically receive the winter, spring, and summer versions. If you hate getting email, know that once you subscribe, you can change your preferences to Freebies Only. You’ll only be notified when a post describes a new subscriber freebie, which you’ll automatically have access to.
Click the turkey image below, add your email, and the download will automatically arrive. By the way, if you like this material, I would love for you to share it with other teachers and parents you know.
I was provided with a free subscription and was compensated for my time in completing this review. All opinions are my own.
A whopping 45% of 17-year-olds read for fun just once or twice a year. While there are some homeschooled teens who also don’t enjoy reading, there are many more who are avid readers–sometimes to the exclusion of other activities that seem more noteworthy on college applications. Yet reading is by far and away the most valuable skill when it comes to college coursework.
Homeschoolers sometimes have to provide a more detailed syllabus for coursework completed on college applications than students in traditional schools. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to prove that your student has not only read but understood many great works of literature? It could not only support your child’s admission to college, but could be used to support applications for scholarships.
Reading Portfolio Could Help Your Child Get Into College
Reading Portfolio is a new online program that not only keeps track of books your high schooler has read, but verifies that the books have been read. Videos of your student taking quizzes on books read are used to confirm that your student isn’t cheating and are then deleted.
Points are accumulated for passing scores and can even be used to demonstrate exemplary reading using these designations:
This great video explains how the program works:
Benefits Beyond College
Do you have a sneaking suspicion that there is more screen time than reading going on? You could also use Reading Portfolio to verify that your students are reading.
Some readers will be motivated to accumulate points just as though reading WERE a game. You could challenge your child to a reading competition with a prize going to the most prolific reader. If your child isn’t an avid reader, check my post of ideas for getting your kids to read more.
Reading Portfolio is an Affordable Way to Improve Your Child’s College Application
Subscriptions are just $15.95 for a year and $24.95 for ten years. You can try a sample quiz to see how it works. You can start building a reading portfolio when your child turns 13. I wish I had a list of all the books I’ve read. Don’t you?
I have always enjoyed singing and playing the piano and I wanted my children to learn music. But I wasn’t one of those homeschooling moms who aspired to have a family band. Nor was I a mom who insisted on years of lessons. All three of my older boys have decided to quit lessons at various times. But today I’m thrilled to say that all three are avid musicians who enjoy playing together for the fun of it.
My younger three children are continuing with Hoffman Academy’s free piano lessons, but they haven’t yet become enthralled with music the way their older siblings have. Even if my younger three decide they want to take a break from piano, I want to make sure learn to appreciate music. Here’s why.
What the Research Says About Why Teaching Music Matters
Memory skill development (a key skill for academic success)
Emotional development (including anxiety coping skills)
Self-confidence (this is really a benefit for kids who don’t excel in sports, for example)
Teaching Music Isn’t Just About Voice and Instrument Lessons
When my son went to his first drum lesson, he was asked about his favorite music. He shrugged. He didn’t HAVE a favorite type of music. Now he listens to music all the time. I hadn’t been doing a good job teaching my kids to appreciate music. To appreciate something, we have to teach them its history, expose them to its experts and fans, and allow them to practice or experience it for themselves.
While taking music lessons helps a child appreciate music, lessons are not a prerequisite. In fact, teaching music appreciation may motivate our kids to take lessons. The problem is that we may be just as ill-equipped to teach music appreciation as we are to teach lessons. Or as in my case, you may be equipped, but just don’t have the time.
That’s where a new music appreciation course from my friend, Gena Mayo, comes in. Gena taught music appreciation in co-op classes and created a curriculum for those students that she is now making available to our students.
I honestly wasn’t planning on teaching music appreciation to my kids this year, but when I saw 21 Lessons in 20th Century American Music Appreciation, I changed my mind! I am now going to do a lesson every week. I think my kids will LOVE it. I know I will! This K-12 curriculum briefly teaches the history of 20th Century American music and uses YouTube links so kids can experience the genres and musicians firsthand. I really believe that this curriculum will motivate my kids to either continue with piano lessons or find another musical instrument they’re interested in as two of my older boys did.
A Music Appreciation Course Deal
For a limited time, Gena is making this course available for a 50% discount. That’s a steal! I wanted to be an affiliate for this course, because I know homeschoolers will love it.
Just go to the IChooseJoyNow store and enter the discount code LABORDAY20. Hurry! This discount ends on September 7th. After that date, the course will sell for just $25.
Want a free lesson to check it out? You’ll be given that option at the store link above.
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
The better a child reads, the more he will read. The more a child reads, the better her reading skills will be.
