Teaching and Learning

Home Reading…I can do that!

Reading at home…sounds easy - even relaxing. Picture this:

Snuggled up on the couch at the end of the day, a book nestled comfortably between parent and child, each with a hand holding the pages in place as they take turns reading their favourite story. Ahh, yes; a scene of utter tranquillity and relaxation.

Or not. This is not usually how home reading looks in my house! It’s more like this:

“Where’s your take home book?” I ask nightly while cooking dinner, yelling at my husband’s dog to get out of the kitchen, and listening out for the ding of my washing machine that will tell me tomorrow’s school uniform is ready to hang in front of the heater.

“I don’t know…may be in my bag,” is my child’s usual response.

“Well, check please. We have to get your reading done so I can sign your reading diary.” This comment is generally greeted by a range of incomprehensible noises and mutterings like “Hmpff!” or “Okkkaaaaaay!”.

Yep. That’s more accurate. Can anyone relate? I’ve asked myself time and time again, “How can I recreate that time when I read with my daughter for enjoyment and make learning to read fun again?”

While there’s certainly not one answer that fits every family, these are some of the things that worked for mine:

1. I asked my daughter when she felt would be the best time to read each day – before school, after school, after dinner or just before bed? She decided that before school would work better for her because she’s more awake; after school, she felt too tired and less able to concentrate. So together, we decided to get up 15 minutes earlier each day to read before school.
2. We discussed what she liked to read most – take home books from school, library books, texts we had at home including her collection of Billy B Brown books or the latest My Little Pony magazine. Usually she opted for her own books and magazines.
3. I then asked my daughter how we could be better organised so we could get straight into the reading without wasting time finding something to read. We decided to leave a book on the kitchen table each night ready for reading in the morning.

We still don’t have it down pat; reading in our house still doesn’t quite reflect that cosy, idyllic image of parent and child snuggled up together. But, including my daughter in the decision making of when to read, what to read and how to organise our reading time certainly made it easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Now, if I could just remember to sign the reading diary…