How Can My Child Become a Better Reader?

1. Make reading part of your child's world. Read books with her and to her, aiming for a total of 30 minutes of book-sharing time each day. Also, incorporate reading into everyday activities. Post a chore list on the refrigerator, ask her to read signs as you drive, and play board games like Scrabble Junior.
2. Take turns. When he is ready to read to you, start by taking turns. You read one page, he reads the next, and so on.
3. Ask deeper questions. Help her build comprehension skills by asking questions about the story, such as why she thinks a character did something and what may come next. Talk to her about which books are her favorites and have her try to explain why.
4. Be patient. Wait quietly as your child tries to sound out a word he's unfamiliar with.
5. Help her when she needs it. If she makes a mistake but is close, quickly repeat the word correctly and let her continue without interrupting the flow. If she guesses wildly on a word, help her get the right meaning from the context of the sentence. Answer questions about the meaning of words, but don't drill her on vocabulary words as you read.
6. Read different level books. It's okay if he chooses an "easy" book to read. Reading a familiar favorite is a good confidence booster. Read more advanced books to him to introduce new words and challenging stories.
7. Praise her. Learning to read smoothly is hard work and might frustrate her at times. Encourage her by praising her efforts, paying attention when she wants to read, and making your reading time together fun.

How Can My Child Improve Math Skills?

1. Make sure he understands the concept, or he's facing the daunting challenge of memorizing meaningless rules and drills.
2. Teach her to write clearly and neatly. Tracing letters or writing on graph paper will improve her number writing.
3. Be around to refresh his memory or explain forgotten concepts.
4. Review math vocabulary to ensure she can define the skills she's learning.
5. Promote putting down the calculator. Computing math problems in his head will reinforce concepts more quickly.
6. Check to make sure your child is approaching her homework properly. She should study the textbook and practice the sample problem before starting the assignment.
7. Encourage him to tackle more than just the assigned problems.
8. Approach word problems together. Suggest that she read aloud, repeat, and draw a picture of each problem.
9. Explain how math applies to real-life situations and challenge him to help you solve the math problems you encounter when you're out together, such as figuring out how many apples to buy or calculating change. He'll be more interested in mastering math if he realizes its value.
10. Does she really know it? If she can answer a basic math question within three seconds she's mastered the concept. Try drills and flash cards to get her up to speed. 

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