Before You Teach Reading Skills - Practice Reading Skills During School Breaks

Keeping your child's reading skills on track during school break is important to:

• prevent regression;
• reinforce skills through practice; and
• give your child a stronger start for the next school session.

Plan your study a few weeks before the break:

• Learn about your child's reading disability.
• Ask the teacher about your child's reading level and what skills she needs to learn. The teacher may recommend worksheets, books, or software appropriate for your child's skill levels.
• If you need to refresh your own reading skills, review recent homework assignments and determine what skills you need to practice.

Ask your child's teacher or school librarian if there are recommended workbooks, worksheets, or computer software you can use with your child to guide your summer studies. Does the school have online resources for parents to help them help their kids in reading? Are there any recommended commercial websites for guidance?

Ask if your child's school plans to offer summer tutoring sessions or academic programs for students struggling in reading. Some programs are funded only to target specific groups of students, such as low income families or the lowest performing children, so not all programs may be available to your child. Some teachers from your child's school district may tutor students privately over breaks. Ask your child's principal, counselor, or teacher if they are aware of teachers who plan to tutor or if they will post your interest in tutoring in the teacher's lounge.

If your child has a history of regression with her reading or is likely to show regression, she may qualify for School Year Services (ESY). If you believe your child will qualify for ESY, request an IEP team meeting to discuss it. The team must review your child's reading performance throughout the past year to determine if she qualifies. Generally, to qualify, students must have a history or strong likelihood of significant regression beyond what typical students experience.

Some community resources such as public libraries and community education programs offer summer tutoring or activities that reinforce skills. There may also be commercial tutoring resources available. Your local library may be able to help you identify services in or near your community.