How do I get my 8 year old to read more ?
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The short answer is to (1) find things he is interested in; (2) read with him; (3) give him cause to read (instructions, recipes... ) to get him started (4) have him/her read to you from the newspaper, etc. (5) All of the above at one time or another.\n\nI honestly don't know how much your child hates to read - or why he/she doesn't - but I will tell you my experience:  In kindergarten (or whatever grade we started learning to read), my teacher beat my senses dead with "See Jane run.  See Spot run."  I had NO interest in that.  I kept walking over the the encyclopedias and pointing, running my fingers along the bindings, hoping she'd catch the hint (that those might be more interesting).  She didn't.  She yelled at me to get back in my chair.  And I was gone -- lost to the world of reading.  I hate to read, unless it's something I am very interested in.\n\nSo, I suppose the best advice I can give is find subjects she/he likes and read to her/him...  and maybe she/he will start doing it on her/his own when you're busy.\n\nI know people who LOVE to read... Maybe I can find out why they do & how they got started.\n\nPeace.\n\nP.S.  The reason I mentioned my school experience is because (I believe) the school system needs a serious overhaul.
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Some I ran into:\n\nBe careful that they are learning to read the words and not just memorizing them.\n\nUnderstanding phonics is a big one.\n\nTwo letter sounds "ee" "ea" "ou".\n\nThe silent "e" rule.\n\nDo not push them beyond their limits time wise or level of book wise.  Time you will know, when they get antcy or stop paying attention, etc.  Let them pick the book to use, if its too hard that is okay, but they will realize their limits and see progress that way.
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you can purchase the latest harry potter novel for her,although i believe the series is getting darker with more adult themes being involved(like death and violence)..and at a voluminous 600 odd pages,it can get boring for her.try looking out for other interests,if she is a comic book lover,calvin and hobbes collection would be awesome gift.
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Read, read, read, read, read.  Play, play, play -  but try to do it together.  You can even include your other kids and spouse.\n\nMy son loved books and never got enough.  My partner typically spends 30-60 minutes right before bedtime with both kids.  He learned everything at a very young age.  He also enjoys a lot of the leap-pad, leap-frog, etc educational learning toys and videos.\n\nMy niece had the same problem, where the father was non-existant and didn't really care, and the mother was "too busy".  But that didn't mean that she wasn't interested, and on the rare holidays would love the attention we would lavish on her reading books and explaining things like how planets moved and why there were seasons.\n\nUndoubtedly, anything you do, so long as you show an interest should appeal to your step son, who probably is not used to the attention, and would welcome some interaction.  Just make sure too to have patience with the understanding that he didn't get the benefits that your other kids have had at a young age.
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Is your school not offering tutoring? I don't know that there is free tutoring out there unless you could apply for some kind of grant. There are lots of good phonics based computer programs. I like Reader Rabbit and Jump Start. You can even check them out from your local library. Encourage reading in your house as much as possible. I read to my kids every night. If the book is easy enough we take turns reading. Recently found a good incentive program that is free online. Kids read, take quizzes and earn points to get free stuff. Anything that will encourage reading will help. \nI hope the school has considered any learning disabilities. They should be able to test for and diagnose such things.
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Give them small pieces of text so that they may follow along as you read to them.  Ultimately, you will want them to take turns reading aloud.  I know this has gone "out of fashion" in the classroom, but it really works.  You will be modeling tone, cadence, pronunciation, etc.  I am currently teaching a literacy unit in a tenth grade classroom.  We do this every day.  This is what they were missing......
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She needs strategies.  While she's reading, teach her strategies to figure out words by asking, "What makes sense?", "What word looks like that? (letters)", "What word makes those sounds".  Get yourself a parent or high school volunteer that can listen to her read aloud every single day.  Make sure the books are at an appropriate level and send those books home to be read over and over.  I like www.readinga-z.com, but there is a fee to join.
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I recommend movies with close caption.  Books that are interesting and related to topics the person finds interesting.  Make him read short perios (15 minutes), then have him wrtie a short composition about the book he was reading.  Show him what kind of sentences he is using, and compare them to the gramatical structure of the book.
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he doesnt like reading?????...oh you sweet mother! i will hear you say one of these days, "help me pleeease, my son does not like his clothes...can he wear fig leaves and two nuts to school?"...\n\nTie him to the bed post, give him a book on meaning of life, ask him to read, if he doesnt give him the hobby of pulling the book out of his asss, ....repeat the hobby till he thinks reading is easier on the eye...and the...\n\ncheers, and hope you read this ..if not, you have it coming too...
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If you have a good library try "Five In A Row". My girls are enjoying it. This is a literature based program that teaches Social Studies, Language, Art, Math and Science. I would suggest adding another math program and a phonics program. \n I also like using "Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons"  for phonics. This can be bought at Walmart On-line. \nFor additional math I use Alpha Omega Lifepac but there are MANY to chose from. \n3Moms.com is great for encouragement and they have a bundle of sample lessons so you can see what is best for your family to use. \nFor extra work I like to use www.schoolexpress.com. They have a variety of free printable worksheets on many subjects.\nA fun on-line place to learn is www.factmonster.com.\nAnother fun and educational free place to learn to read is Starfall.com\nI have been home schooling for 6 years and every year I find something new and exciting from my searches. Another great place to search on the web to find any answer is www.ask.com. Ask Jeeves finds specific web sites for your specific question.
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Check out the National Literacy Programme; as for each year group there are a designated list. For example Year 1 children have approxiamately 40 key words to learn.  In Year 2 this is built upon and added to.\nHope this helps.
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since most elementary schools are k-5 you may need several book clubs..because what is appropriate for 5 is not neccessarily appropriate for k!\n\ngive the books to the kids an adequate time in advance (older kids with chapter books may need two weeks while little kids with picture books may need just one night)\n\nwith the little ones..have the story read. discuss it. sing a song that is related..then do a related craft or project. \n\n\nfor older kids...i would break the book club into chapters...say a book has 19 chapters..then meet once every three days after "x" number of chapters have been read to discuss it. and then a final meet to discuss the entire book! maybe even have them "act out" their favorite scenes. \n\nif you look online you can get bookclub questions ...if you are doing this book club after school have snacks for the kids too..and keep it fun and light..the idea is to foster a love for books!\n\nolder kids will love: harry potter, a wrinkle in time, etc.talk to the school librarian for other suggestions!
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As s Literacy Specialist, I can tell you there are a lot of things you could do to help your son. \nHowever, before you go about helping him, find out how the school approaches reading. Do they have a phonics based program or whole literacy program? (It is usually one or the other).  You do not want to teach a completley different way at home than what the school is teaching. \nAnother thing, is to find out exactly where he is struggling.It is too broad for me to tell you what you should be doing to help him when I do not know where his struggles are. Are they decoding, fluency,  inferencing, etc? (All of these factors affect comprehension)\n\nIf for instance, he is having trouble decoding words  you could use word tiles to strenghten his vocabulary and use some basic phonic instruction. (There are some great work books you could use out there). \nHowever, if he is struggling in fluency he needs to immerse himself more in reading and monitoring himself.    \n\nTalk to his teachers and I bet they can tell you where he is struggling. However, the best thing he can always do is to read, read, read. If he does not enjoy it much, then you could take turns with him reading aloud. \nHope this helps!
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If your sister will allow it, sit with her and read to her and with her.  Encourage her to read things that she likes.  Have her pick out the book to read.
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I'm going to try to keep all my ideas low cost and easy...if you're a stay at home mom these might work better than if you're not.  Though you might be able to get your childcare provider to do these things as well.\n\n1. Check out your local library!  They often have great things going on for the summer.  My son now 12 is an avid reader particaly becasue he got interested in the summer reading programs at the libray.  They usually have a program where kids read books and get starts or stickers or something like that to put in a book.  Sometimes there are draws and prizes and parties involved.  I find these really help boys by getting the competitive juices going...who can read the most books by the end of the summer.  Don't worry if he gravitates to books that are too young for him...any reading he does is good, builds word recognition and speed and comprehension.  You may luck out and find a series he likes...look for "The Magic Tree House" books, they might be about his level.  Then they want to read them all as fast as they can.\n\n2.Grocery Shopping...you have to do it anyway so make it special.  Have him help you make the list...maybe he can even write it out!  When you're shopping let him help you find things. Pick 2 "special treats" from the bakery to have when you get home and the groceries are put away.  Make a big deal out of it...set the table, light a candle.  \nNow a word of warning.  Grocery shopping with kids can be rough as they want every unhealthy expensive thing they see.  But by allowing him to choose one special thing you make that a bit easier.  And all kids need to learn that they can't have everything.  Once they get use to it the tantrums over the jumbo box of oreos will stop.  UNLESS you give into them...then it gets worse since they see it works.\n\n3. Plan a picnic.  You can combine this with the grocery shopping too.  You can take a picnic to a park...or maybe meet up with Dad at work.  \n\n4. 2 words...water balloons...don't forget to participate fully yourself. Kids don't see mom having fun as often as they sould...mine included.\n\n5. This may cost a bit but maybe it will fit into the budget...visit some of your local tourist attactions...a historical home, a zoo, an art gallery.\n\n6. Plant a garden...you may already do that but maybe you can give him a little corner for himself or dig up a separate spot for him.  \n\n7. Are you religious? Christian? look for a "Vacation Bible School" in your area.\n\n8. Check out the website below.  They update it monthy with cool stuff to do with your pre-school/Elemantary and teenage kids.  In the upper right hand side of the page find the paper and pencil to subscribe to get updates mailed to you monthy!\n\nI'll edit this as I think of more.
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Get an index card to place under the line that she is reading.  This will help her keep from losing her place.  A colored one might work even better...  But a flourescent one might be hard on the eyes.\n\nBefore she reads, give her an idea of what she's going to be listening for by reading her the questions first... Then tell her to highlight the answers when she finds them.  This will help her to learn to actively listen and search for needed information.\n\nTeach her to read the questions, read the passage, then re-read questions one by one, skimming for the answer.  Find the key word in the question and then search the reading passage for that word.\n\nTalk to her about things like bold print, italics, captions under pictures...  Talk to her about headings and the organization of writing.  Often the first and last sentences in each paragraph tell the story.\n\nLet her know the importance of being able to read to gather information.  There are many reasons to read, including enjoyment.  Make sure that she's having opportunities to read for fun, too.  Not just dreary homework.  Take her to the bookstore and let her buy a book.  It could even be a comic book!  The point is to get her to read.\n\nYou might notice that she is better at reading comprehension in fiction than non-fiction stories.  This is good to know, because you can point out her strength and focus on her area of needed improvement.\n\nLet her see you reading for both pleasure and for gathering information.  Help her to understand that every day reading is important in the real world.\n\nGood luck!
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This is a common problem.  There are many ways you can help her improve her reading comprehension.\n\nThe first step is to get her in the habit of "previewing" the book before she reads it.  Have her look at the front cover, the title, and the pictures.  Ask her what she thinks the story will be about, who the characters will be, etc..  That gets her mind ready to read.\n\nNext, on each page have her look at the picture BEFORE she reads the text.  Ask her to tell you what is going on the picture, and what she notices.  This will give her some more specific idea of what she's going to read on that page, before she even reads it.\n\nAfter she reads the page, ask her to tell back to you what happened on that page.  Check to see how much detail she is able to recall.  Is she getting the overall picture, but leaving out details?  That's good.  Or is she remembering specific, small details, but not putting them into context or getting the big picture?  Or is she not remembering anything at all?  If her retell of that one page is incomplete, have her read it again.\n\nAs she proceeds through the book, she should to a "picture tell back" for every picture, and she should do a retell after each and every page.  This will help you monitor her comprehension as you go.  Don't ask her specific questions to prompt her to retell.  Just ask, "what happened on that page?"  Then nod and listen.  If the retelling is incomplete or incorrect, encourage her to re-read and retell again.  As she gets into the habit of retelling, it will improve her concentration and comprehension.  Knowing that you have to retell forces you to pay attention to the story.\n\nAt the same time, you do need to ask certain questions to promote her involvement in the story. For example, ask her to make predictions about what's going to happen next.  Then encourage her to read and find out if her prediction was correct.  Ask her to make connections between the book and her own life.  For example, "Do you think you would like to eat green eggs and ham?  Has anyone every tried to make you eat something you didn't want to?"  Etc.\n\nYou can also incorporate fun activities in with the reading of a book, to encourage her interest and involvement in the story.  For example, you could stop reading before the end, put down the book, and write your own endings to the story (with your own illustrations, too, of course).  Or you could act out different parts of the story together.  When you finish reading, you could encourage your daughter to draw a picture showing what she thinks happened to the characters after the story ended.\n\nThe important thing to remember is to teach her to monitor her comprehension as she goes.  You can even demonstrate it for her.  Read a page aloud, then stop and say, "What happened on this page was...  wait a minute... I don't remember!  I better read it again."  Then read it again and retell it out loud.  Encourage her to always do that on her own.  Because if you can't retell the story out loud in your own words, then you aren't really reading.