what could i do to help an older  friend read and write better?
412002
Be very patient, if you are reading along with them don't give them the words they struggle with too quickly - let them try to sound it out themselves - but don't wait until they are frustrated either because then it will make reading less fun.  \n\nOnce the reading part improves, I think the writing part will come more naturally.
887288
You're not getting any better by not writing.  The only way to become better is to READ more and WRITE more.  I am an English teacher...and I know YOUR English teacher told you that, too.
487671
Practice speaking with them, don't feel bad about correcting them.  they can watch TV or movies, listen to audio books. Even going to the basics with grade school phonics - Hope this helps!
103824
There is nothing like the old thing known as practice. Try telling her a story.. something she would be interested in.. ask her to take notes about the story. Like the main idea. info she thinks is important. Then if she seems to do alright with that.. move into other subject areas. \n\nThere is no real way to teach her how to study. Each person studies in their own way. While you might think it best for her to study sitting upright at a desk during daylight hours.. maybe she focuses better at night sitting on the couch. Each person has their own "way" on how to study. All you could do is try and help her find what way is best for her.
183664
The other posters have given excellent advice.  Read, read read.  That is the most important thing you can do to improve your vocabulary and to become a better writer.  Pay attention to the different styles of writing you experience in your reading.  Note what you like and what you don't like.  Keep a notebook with you all the time so you can jnot down words and phrases you hear that you don't quite understand - and find out what they mean and how to use them.\n\nThe links I've included will give you manhy more ideas.  As you work at it you will find hundreds of other sites that can be very helpful.\n\nGood luck with it.
485086
Think about what else she's interested in and then find ways to integrate reading into that hobby.  If she likes soccer ask her if she knows when soccer was started - when she says no - help her look it up in the library.  If she has a favorite TV show try getting some of the book tie-ins or even a book that's similar to her favorite episode (if she liked it when Dora explored a mine then get a book with a similar plot)\n\nWhen you read with her take turns reading a paragraph each and not only should you try to be patient with her - when it's your turn you can sometimes pretend to have trouble with a word and get her to help you.\n\nLike a lot of other posters have already said reading in front of her is one of the best things you can do.  I also loved the "Read to Rex" idea!
682088
Read, get a clear understanding of the material, then review. Some people think physically writing key points out on paper will help them to remember information better.
259292
first find out what grade level they are reading on by giving them a test i forget what it is called and then find out what they have trouble on (i.e. vowels, long e, etc.) once you have found that out then you can focus on it and in the areas where they are struggling you could come up with a game to help them out and to kinda keep it on a consistant basis.
885874
Consult a senior might help
125907
Here are a few websites offering the tips for the same.\n\nhttp://www.youmeworks.com/speedyreading.html\nhttp://www.developingteachers.com/tips/pasttips22.htm\nhttp://web.nps.navy.mil/~menissen/mn3309/readguid.htm\n\nAll the best.
65920
By reading books, magazines, listening to radio and other sources where other people use words you don't know or willing to know. \n\nWhen reading a book, take out the unknown words with the whole sentence. Understand its meaning and try to remember the context of the sentence.\n\nAnd next time when you talk to your buddies, try to use the word you just learned. Humans are fast learners. Give it a try.
878564
I don't know how old you are or what your resources are but I can name a few.  Be a big brother or sister, help out at your local mission, take things you and your friends no longer need or use to a homeless shelter or to a battered women's home.  Teach someone to read.  Reading builds self esteem and words are powerful tools.  Whatever you do don't give advice to someone if you really don't know the way yourself.  \n     there are lots of people who need help out there, and it's not hard to  help and elderly person with shopping, or even just letting them know someone cares.  Read to sick children at your local hospital......  there are a few, it only takes time and willingness's and you seem to  have that. God bless you for caring.
801138
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.
6853
Other than doing a lot of reading, you could learn some phonics rules for English.  Spelling according to these rules doesn't work all the time, but it might help.
268677
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!
841618
This one's quite open ended.  First of all it depends on the learning disability.  If it's eyesight, glasses will help.  If it's concentration, studying for an hour, then taking a fifteen minute break, then going back to studying again may help.  If it's memorization, flash cards or music may help.  Identifying information with music is a great way to remember things.  If it's comprehension, work with the children to figure out what each piece of the story or text is saying.  \n\nIt's a case by case basis.  One solution won't work with every disability.  It also helps to have your smarter students aid the ones that are having trouble.  Many students resign trying to tackle a problem when an adult intervenes.   So, having someone their own age work with them makes things a little easier.  When fellow students help those that are struggling, there's a great chance to make friendships and both the student tutor and the struggling student learn the material even better.
189676
GO TO A BOOK STORE AND ENROLL IN AN OPEN READING GROUP. THIS WILL HELP YOU COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS AND READ/WRITE