Literacy is more than just reading.
1. Oral language and listening comprehension are keys to literacy.
Encourage podcasts and audiobooks as much as physical and eBooks. Have children retell the parts they listened to and ask tons of questions. Ask questions about what the book reminded them of and what they can compare it to that they already know.
2. Let them choose what they read.
Kids who choose what they read, regardless of whether it’s a novel, a comic book, or a magazine, are more engaged with what they are reading and more likely to retain the information.
3. Help them choose age-appropriate books but leave the “level” to the teacher.
Help your kids choose age-appropriate books on topics that interest them to spark a passion for reading. Talk to your librarian or even show them e-readers that provide entire libraries of options at the touch of the screen. Don’t focus on “levels” as they are a teacher tool and not a label. When a child is encouraged to read widely and deeply, they tend to be more curious and courageous in reading other types of texts.
4. Read several times every day.
The more children are exposed to literature, the more reading will become part of their daily life. A child is introduced to new information, concepts, and phonemic awareness with every story. Reading can be as simple as manuals and directions, books, short stories, poems and even cereal boxes. Let them read menus, movie names, roadside signs, game guides, weather reports, and other practical everyday information.
5. Surround your children with access to reading material.
Children that know how to access reading resources when at home typically show improvement in all academic areas.
6. Use technology to your advantage and help your child with Digital Literacy
Technology is changing the way we all learn and it can have a positive impact on kids and their reading, comprehension and critical thinking skills. Encouraging digital literacy with your child will increase reading skills. Use technologies to leverage your resources such as text readers and font enlargers as well as utilizing dyslexic font if needed for learning differences.
7. Show interest in your child’s reading and learning
Your response and feedback has the most direct effect on how hard they will try to become good readers. Always remember to give them genuine praise for their efforts. Reading for pleasure seems to give kids an advantage in school because they are accustomed to new ideas and can process new information more quickly and effectively than their non-reading peers. Model reading for your child (even if it’s just on your phone, “I’m reading a news article about XX, what did you read today?”. "I just watched a video on XX and I liked YY, what did you watch today?"
8. Don't judge what they are reading in front of them.
There is nothing wrong with comics and graphic novels because they enhance visual literacy, appreciation for storytelling, the arts, and empathy. Sometimes we want our children to choose what we deem more appropriate books and content. But don't say it out loud. By diminishing their choices and their freedom to chose, we inherently send the message what they are doing isn't "good enough". Encourage them, talk to them, talk to the teacher or librarian for read-alikes, but don't judge their choices.