Reading Tips

Often times, literacy training can seem like an uphill battle with little or no progress from session to session. It is at these points that it is often a good idea to re-evaluate your training plans and consider other training options.  One of the most rewarding and effective methods of teaching your student literacy may be as simple as simply reading.  There may be no better way to teach and bond with your student.

By reading a story or book with your student you can help to revive their interest in learning.  Rather than following a strict, rigid plan from a lesson plan, reading together allows you flexibility and gives you more control over the content of your lesson plans.  It also allows you to gear your course plans to your student’s specific needs.  There are a number of benefits of reading with your student which include:

• Creating a shared learning experience
•  Exposing your student to new information and new experiences
•  Building your student’s confidence 
•  Energizing your training sessions

As with any training session, a lot of planning is needed when you read with your student.  Some things to keep in mind while preparing to read to your student:

•         pick out a book, story, article or any other type of text together 
• preview the book to make sure it is an appropriate subject matter and within their reading level
•          tailor your reading material to their specific needs 
•          switch off reading with your student
•          prepare questions to ask your student before your session
•          politely, interrupt your reading to ask your student questions about what they just read
•          have fun – lighten the mood and interject humor and  life experiences

It's important to keep in mind that you do not need to read a book.  Any reading material will suffice.  it could be a magazine, comic book, sales flier or even a blog (we appreciate the view counts).

There are many helpful websites that can help you pick out a book or plan your lesson plans.  A quick Google search for literacy or books can retrieve thousands of results.  Listed below are a few web sites that can help you find a book to read with your student and information about the books you may suitable for your student.  Keep in mind that you may need to sign up to access some of the web sites but they are all free to use.  

To view the links below, click on the link and a new browser should apperar which will take you the web site.
 

Good Reads has summaries of books and detailed reviews by other readers

Amazon and Barnes and Noble include summaries of books, reviews by other users and a quick and easy way to order books  (quick tip - if you click on "Click To Look Inside" on Amazon.com you will be able to view the Kindle Sample book which includes the first few pages of the book that you can either read with your student on your tablet or laptop or you can print and read with your student) 

The Best Notes is an online"Cliff's Notes" type web site that provides a synopsis and chapter by chapter summary of a wide selection of books.  It also provides study questions and answers you can use in your reading sessions

YouTube is not only a good source for cat videos.  You can also find videos of book reviews by other YouTube users

The New York Times Books Section, NPR Books and Huffington Post Books are good resources to find what books are popular as well as for reviews and news about literature.

Don't be afraid to search for books or books with other key terms such as books for learning literacy on Google to find other websites that you may find helpful. 

"Never judge a book by its movie." - J.W. Eagan