Literacy FAQ 

Most kids don't actually hate reading.  They might hate feeling like they can't keep up, being confused, the frustration of knowing reading comes more easily to peers or the specific books we choose.  It is obvious, but has to be said. 

Ask!  A simple, "So I can tell you don't want [to read, to go to the library, to get a new book, to do that homework, to turn off the screen, etc.]. Tell me more."  (Dr. Ross Green made this technique famous with his book, Lost at School.  He recommends describing what you notice and following up with the phrase, "What's up?" as many times as necessary.  As non-judgmentally as possible.)

 80% of kids will learn to read easily, with what looks like vague disregard for what we do or do not do instructionally.  If you're struggling with getting one of these kids to read, chances are you need to look more closely at increasing their autonomy in reading. 

- Let them start and stop books.

- Let them decline your favorites. 

- Let them choose a graphic novel when you wish they'd choose a classic. 

There's a real chance if your child is not interested in reading after you've tried tips above, they are just not yet a confident, strategic reader.  For every 8 kids that pick reading up with relative ease, 1-2 will not. 

Some of us need explicit and direct structured, sequential, cumulative, multi-sensory literacy instruction. We might need to over-learn certain skills.  We might need to explicitly practice breaking apart words into sounds, to learn the "why" behind the rules of language, or to study it differently than our classmates. We might need our instruction to be customized to us, paced differently, delivered in an alternate setting, and flexibly designed to our specific needs.  Nearly every person can learn to read, given evidence-based, high-quality instruction, with very few exceptions, statistically.  But until we get to the point that we know we can read strategically -- until we've over-learned those skills and had that evidence-based instruction-- we are far more likely to minimize our frustration by avoiding reading entirely. 

These are the kids we most need to get into small group instruction with highly trained teachers, and the earlier the better.  If this sounds like a student you know, reach out. Snack and Recess can help. 

For confident readers who, even given freedom, don't buy in, we recommend:

- Make it a way to connect -- read together or read the same book separately, then talk about it. Bonus points for book-themed food or road trips. 

- Try a book club!  It is easy to underestimate the social and contextual impacts of learning.  Friends make things fun.  (Check out our book clubs on the Small Group Sign Up page!)

- Try a mini-bribe, like a 10 minute bedtime extension if you spend those minutes reading.  

- Model the behavior - get caught reading, often, just for fun.  

- Try a reading challenge.  Libraries often host these, but we've got you covered, too. Try to find the best reading beach, the best hammock, the best reading chair, the coziest blanket, or the best fireplace nook. 

Kids "learn" to read over the course of years, way before they start elementary school.  There are so many ways to help as a parent, including:

• Read nursery rhymes or silly songs, books, and poems with rhymes. Point out the rhymes you hear and make new ones.
• Sing the ABCs, but go really slowly and carefully over the "l-m-n-o-p" part.
• Point out letters when you see them.  As kids begin to recognize and name some letters and letter sounds, it can help to point out the differences between specific letters.  "I know you know what an 'a' looks like, but check this one out.  Its a fancy a.  See, it has that extra tail on the top.  Sometimes that happens with the letter a." etc. 
• Play games with words.  Break them into parts, blend them back together, clap at the different syllables, and change the beginning sounds.  Go slow and keep it fun.  
• Read together.  Part of the benefit of reading with kids is that you, as a loved and safe person, can make exploring books and stories fun and safe, too.