Fishtank is usually a resource geared toward classroom teachers, but in the past week, many parents have suddenly taken on the responsibilities of temporary homeschool teachers.
So in addition to the classroom teacher resources we’re compiling, we want to provide some support for all of the newly minted homeschool teachers, who are probably already in serious danger of burnout. The dizzying lists of online educational resources swirling across the internet are enough to make most parents want to run the other way. But please, don’t quit yet!
If you do anything during this time to support your child's learning, it should be to keep them reading for fun. It will give you needed quiet time to get things done and it will help your child maintain and even improve their reading skills.
Here are a few tips for parents about setting up routines around independent reading:
1. What should your child be reading?
If your child has something to read for school, they should always read that first, but we also recommend that children read books they’ve picked and are excited to read. Rereading counts: even if they want to reread something they’ve already read they will still benefit, especially in the early grades. We don’t want independent reading to feel like a chore, it should be a fun, relaxing part of the day (that also keeps them learning).
2. How long should your child read for?
Kids should read every day. How long they read depends on their age. Some children aren’t used to sitting and reading for long chunks of time. If necessary, break up the time, but in order to build stamina, make sure you make the chunks of time longer each time.
We recommend children read for the following amount of time each day:
- Kindergarten–1st Grade: 15–30 minutes
- 2nd–3rd Grade: 30–45 minutes
- 4th–6th Grade: 45–60 minutes
- 7th–8th Grade: 60+ minutes
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Set a timer for your child. If your child struggles to meet the goal at first, that’s okay. Challenge them to add a few minutes every day. |
3. When should they read?
We recommend setting a designated time each day for independent reading. Even if your child reads before bed for pleasure, we recommend creating an additional time for them to read during the day. If possible, have kids read at the same time every day. If possible, make sure it’s quiet during independent reading time. The less distractions the better.
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Create a special spot for reading. During independent reading time each day, have your child go to their reading spot. This could be in a special fort, under covers with a flashlight, on a special comfy chair, or even in a closet! |
4. How do I know that they are understanding what they are reading?
After reading, we recommend that students take some time to either talk or write about what they’ve read. Below are questions to ask your child if they are reading either fiction or nonfiction texts. They can answer these questions orally, or as part of an independent reading journal. For students in grades 3–5, we recommend that they write every day.
Good questions to ask if your child is reading a fiction book:
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Tell the story/chapter to me in your own words. Make sure you include all the important parts and tell me about the characters.
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Tell me about the characters. What are they like? Would you want to be their friend? Why or why not? Include evidence from the story.
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Why did the character do/say that? What in the story makes you think that?
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What lesson do you think the author is trying to teach us? Why do you think that?
Good question to ask if your child is reading a nonfiction book:
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What new information did you learn today?
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What was the most exciting information you learned, why?
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What questions do you have after reading? What do you want to learn more about?
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You can use our templates for independent reading logs and journals as PDFs or Google Docs. See an example below. |
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If your child isn’t a big fan of writing (don’t worry, that’s normal!), consider making suggestions for how many sentences they should write each day. Start small, suggesting maybe 2-3 sentences. Each day, challenge them to write more sentences. The most important thing is that kids are writing. It’s okay if spelling or grammar isn’t perfect. Some kids need to be reminded of that from time to time. |
Good luck, parent teachers! You're already doing a great job! We applaud your efforts and are here to help. Reach out any time with questions or feedback.
Anne Lyneis is the Managing Director of ELA Curriculum and the author of the Literature and Science and Social Studies curriculum for grades K-5. She began her career in education through Teach for America South Louisiana where she fell in love with teaching. She taught elementary school for 8 years in both public and charter schools in Louisiana, Texas, and Massachusetts before joining the Fishtank team. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in school leadership from Louisiana State University.