Improving Your Child’s Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is a crucial learning skill for children to master. One proven technique to teach reading is to have them make connections with the text. At home, there is a fun and informal way to increase your child's learning of what they read. All that's needed to teach reading is your child's favorite book and some open ears.

Nothing is more important to academic achievement than being a good reader. Parents know their children best and can provide the one-on-one time and attention that will lead them to success in reading. Here is a list of 5 ways to help your children become more effective readers.

STEP 1:
(Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day)
Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.

STEP 2:
(Surround your children with reading material.)
Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.

STEP 3:
(Have a family reading time.)
Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient to increase their reading fluency.

STEP 4:
(Encourage a wide variety of reading activities.)
Make reading an integral part of your children's lives. Have them read menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time when they could be waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

STEP 5:
(Develop the library habit.)
Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials. The library also offers reading programs for children of all ages that may appeal to your children and further increase their interest in reading.

5 Math Tutoring Tips for Parents

1. Counting
The most basic skills in mathematics are counting and grouping (“seeing” numbers in groups). To develop counting skills, help children learn to count from any number, to any number, by any number. Do all counting forward and backward.

2. Fractions
As counting skills begin to develop, fractions can be introduced. Long before introducing words like numerator and denominator, teach children that half means “2 parts the same,” and have them use this knowledge to figure out things like:
• “How much is half of 6? …10? …20? …26? …30? …50? …100? …248? …4,628?”
• “How much is half of 3? …11? …15? …21? …49? …99? …175? …999? …2,001?

3. Problem Solving
Children become good problem solvers when they are asked to solve a broad range of problems early on, at home and at school. Start with easy questions; let the level of difficulty increase as the child’s ability grows.

4. Money
Preschool and kindergarten are appropriate times to begin this training. It is best that parents take care of these things at home, rather than have teachers spend valuable classroom time on them.
By the end of third grade, children should have learned the basic equivalents:
• 20 nickels = 10 dimes = 4 quarters = 2 half–dollars = 1 dollar
• 1 dime = 2 nickels
• 1 quarter = 5 nickels
• 1 half–dollar = 5 dimes = 10 nickels

5. Grouping
To expand children’s thinking processes and help them “see” groups, ask questions like:
• “7 and how much more make 10?” “70 and how much more make100?” “700 and how much more make 1,000?”
• “10 and how much more make 15?” “10 and how much more make 18?” “10 and how much more make 25?”
• “17 and how much more make 20?” “87 and how much more make 100?” “667 and how much more make 1,000?”

Special thanks to Joe Restivo for his contribution on this article.

Summer Camp in Charlotte, NC - Accelerated Academic Program

At Swan Learning Center we know that children can excel. Our accelerated summer program is designed to teach students the basics needed to excel in school. The half day and full day programs are three weeks long. Additional weeks may be added especially when parents want children to work on more than one subject area. Before and after camp care is provided along with a full day program.

Registration Details

Times: Half Day Academic Camp

Monday- Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM or

Monday-Thursday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Dates:

Choose three weeks between June 7 and September 2. Consecutive weeks are preferred for optimal learning retention. Parents choose in which 3 weeks to participate. Additional weeks may be added.

Morning Academic Camp 9 AM -12 PM

Includes Registration, Diagnostic Testing, Morning Snacks, Motivational Program and Progress Assessment when one subject has been the focus of instruction.

Tuition for 3 week camp $795

Additional Week $265

We Offer

• Place where all students achieve

• Diagnostic Testing

• Individualized programs

• Highly motivational Instruction

• Professional certified Teachers

• Unique Reward System

• Summer Camp where students have fun learning

Academic Assessment

Our battery of academic tests and screens identifies your student’s strengths and areas of need. Following the diagnostic testing we will confer with you to determine the specific programs to meet your student’s needs and goals.

Personalized Instruction

Work with teachers who get results. Learn in a positive and open environment where success is everyone’s goal.

Progress Testing

Student’s progress is assessed throughout the program. Progress testing after 30 hours of instruction provides a tangible measure of academic growth.

Tips for Test Taking

In a perfect world there would be no standardized tests, report cards or astronomical college tuition. There would also be no calories in chocolate, no such thing as wrinkles, and exercise would make you fat. Okay, maybe that’s my perfect world. Unfortunately, these are not realities. Most of us will have to slice off an arm and matching leg to pay college tuition, I will continue to look more and more like a Shar-pei every year and kids will be required to take standardized tests as long as they can sit upright and hold a No. 2 pencil.

Last week I focused on the sometimes crippling anxiety induced by the multitudes of standardized tests our kids are required to take. As promised, this week I focused my efforts on some practical methods of alleviating stress associated with test taking. To this end, I consulted with Psychotherapist, Licensed Social Worker and Parent Coach, Barbara Chamberlain. After putting our heads together we came up with the following suggestions:

One week prior to the test:

- Practice Deep Breathing: Once a day for 15 minutes, six counts in and six counts out.

- Positive Self-Talk: Adopt a mantra and repeat it whenever you think about the test, such as, “I am a really good test taker,” or, “I’m calm and focused during tests.”

- Visualization: Do a daily “dry run” in your mind. Picture yourself calmly sitting at your desk, reading the questions and filling in the bubbles.

- Get cardiovascular exercise to alleviate stress.

The night before the test:

- Don’t watch anything disturbing on TV, like "Friday the 13th" or the Kardashians.

- Before bed turn off all electronics — computers, cell phones, etc.

- Go to bed at a decent time so you get around eight hours of sleep (crucial!).

The morning of the test:

- Get up early enough to avoid rushing around, which is very stressful.

- Eat a healthy breakfast, but if you really don’t have time, grab something with protein.

- Drink lots of water for optimal brain function.

Some other ideas:

- Have a ritual to take the edge off: Brush your teeth while singing "Happy Birthday," touch your nose three times before picking up your pencil, etc.

- Have a lucky charm: Aside from being magically delicious, they help externalize the stress, so wear your socks with the rainbow toes, put your Batman action figure in your backpack, have the first valentine you ever got in your pocket and believe in luck!

Thanks to Susan Schaefer for providing some great tips! For more tips from Charlotte Math Tutors, contact Swan Learning Center today!