When I taught reading in school, most of my students were relaxed, supported and eager to read with me. One child, however, was especially nervous during reading lessons. I figured out the reason during a parent-teacher conference with his mother. She shared her own frustration with her son’s reading and showed me how she tried to teach reading at home (she was quite intense!). I was relieved to solve the mystery of why her son was so nervous, and was able to help him by suggesting to his mother that she replace home reading lessons with story time, when she could read aloud to her child. 

This is a good lesson to keep in mind when teaching your child to read. Keeping calm is a vital part of enjoyable reading lessons – for you and your child. There are many ways to reduce frustration during reading lessons, as well. And I promise, if you follow these tips, you won’t be enabling your child. Instead, you will build a strong relationship around reading and your child’s confidence and abilities will grow together.

1. If your child asks you for a word, tell them. This may seem counter-productive, but this allows your child to continue reading without a break in the story. If you are giving too many words, that is a clue that the reading material is too difficult for your child’s reading level.
2. Stop reading before frustration kicks in.  If your child is becoming frustrated with reading aloud, offer to read every other page, or to finish the book for them. Reading should be fun, and it is your job to make sure it stays that way. Remember, when you read to your child, you are modeling good reading skills.
3. Praise your child. Point out new words he can read. Thank him for reading to you. Make sure he knows how much you enjoy it when he reads to you. This will make your child excited to read to you.
4. Read and reread. Repetition builds fluency and teaches syntax (the natural order of words in our language). Choose quality picture books such as Make Way for Ducklings, The Little House, Ox-Cart Man, Miss Rumphius, Corduroy. These books offer a nice variety of higher level vocabulary words. Read TO your child until your child is ready to read to you.

If you need more support teaching reading, check the Homeschool Sunshine Blog or sign up for my coaching service.