Any suggestions on getting a twelve year old to read?
488844
First of all does he hate to read cause it's boring or because it's difficult.And what school district retains a student three times. I would go to the school and demand some answers. Meanwhile Read Naturally is an awesome program and Reading A-Z  \nhas great guided reading books on line so you can figure out where exactly he is. Also try the leap frogs for phonemic awareness, is he hearing all the sounds letters make. Then \nthere are some great after school tutoring like Sylvan \nlearning, but first start at school be strong he's your son and you have rights. Look under IDEA and "No Child Left Behind". Good luck!
17378
Depends on the child's habilities and hobbies. A book could be a good choice if you want to encourage reading, or a puzzle the goal is to find something that will be appealing and not going to be dumped after a few hours of play
115597
I would start by getting as well informed as possible about hearing impairment. Then, I would choose age appropriate readings and then wait for questions by the child. This will also show your child how useful and enjoyable reading can be! Here are some reading suggestions and comments:\n\n"Anna’s Silent World" by Bernard Wolf takes the reader through a typical day in Anna’s, a deaf six-year-old, life.  It explains that even though Anna is deaf, she still does things much like other children.  Any elementary-age student should read or have this book read to them.   \n\n"Seeing Things My Way" by Alden R. Carter. A fully illustrated book about Amanda and her visual impairment. Explains in easy to read text her experiences and expectations including use of CCTV and Braille.\n\n"You and Your Deaf Child: a Self-Help Guide for Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children"  A resource book that parents can use when dealing with feelings about hearing loss and the implications it may have on family life. Includes reference materials covering language systems, family communications behavior and educational placement, plus more.\n\n"Kid-Friendly Parenting With Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: A Treasury of Fun Activities toward Better Behavior" by Daria Medwid and Denise Chapman Weston\nA step-by-step guide offering hundreds of ideas and methods designed to work with children ages 3 to 12 to enhance communication and strengthen relationship in skillful, fun ways.\n\n"I Can Sign My ABC’s" by Laura McCaul and Susan Chaplin, Illustrated , Full-color picture book with 26 signs-one for each letter-with manual alphabet, hand shape, a picture, the name and sign of a simple object beginning with that letter. Ideal book for teaching young children the alphabet.\n\n"My Signing Book of Numbers" by Patricia Bellan Gillen\nThis full-color picture book helps children learn their numbers in sign language. Each two-page spread has the appropriate number of things or creatures for the numbers 0-20. Signs for 30,40, etc. to 100 and instructions on "how to" are included.\n\n"I’m Deaf and It’s Okay" by L. Aseltiine, E. Mueller & N. Tait, Pictures by H. Cogancherry. How this little boy copes with the frustrations of deafness at play and at home.\n\n"My First Book Of Sign" By Patricia Bellen Gillen, Pamela J. Baker, Illustrated. A full color alphabet book, giving the sign for 150 words most frequently used by young people. Word choices based on early language acquisition. Appropriate for children beginning to read.\n\n"Choices in Deafness: A Parents’ Guide" Edited by Sue Schwartz. Ph.D.  A clear thorough, reassuring book that will help parents make the best choices. Written by professional, with frank personal accounts by parents.\n\n"The Silent Garden, Raising your Deaf Child", Second Edition\nPaul W. Ogden.  An up to date reference comprising all the bits and pieces of advice, encouragement and hard data that parents might need in order to make decisions that will enable their children to grow into strong, healthy and productive members of society.\n\n"Raising and Educating a Deaf Child" by Marc Marschark\nA comprehensive guide to the choices, controversies, and decisions faced by parents and educators. Although written by a researcher, the language and explanations of complex issues are clear and easy to understand.\n\n"A Parents’ Guide To Middle Ear Infections" by D.S. Davis,M.A., CCC-A  Answering questions about ear infections in understandable terms. Anatomy, physiology, coping at home and socially.\n\n"Psychological Development of Deaf Children" by Marc Marschark.  Beginning with the nature and scope of deafness the author integrated 30 years of information to identify in what functionally significant way deafness affects the course of child development.\n\nArthur, C. (1979). My Sister's Silent
1163940
Find out what she's interested in and buy her a book about whatever subject she likes. Don't rush her, and try not to give the impression that somehow you are forcing her to read, because nobody likes to be told what to do! Instead tell her how fun it is to read and help her choose a book that she would love to read. Try to get books that are well written, fun and easy to read. There are a lot of books out there that are really boring...and if your sister is not keen on reading already, getting a boring book will just make her turn away from books altogether!
317965
I am not sure what age group you are dealing with. I guess it does not matter, the skill building does. However if your child is in an upper grade and you find skill building things that are a few grade behind, you will need to explain to her what you are trying to achieve, or get creative in hiding it. You may want to look at some of the sites, see what they are trying to accomplish and adjust the content and  the vocabulary. Remember writing is a process, you will need to get the child used to the idea the writing becomes good when you revise it for clarity and accuracy. One thing i did notice with my daughter was  the idea of getting it all together in one step was enough to freeze her in place. The idea, the spelling, the punctuation, grammar, and making it all flow and sound right can be a lot to think about. Do it in steps. Providing a list of correctly spelled  words to refer to can make this easier at first.\nAlso try reading a little and have her write a sentence or two to complete the story, change the ending, and so forth. \nBelow are some links that may help.
712824
Make themrelate to something real, and the kids will remember them. Repetition is fine, but boring and they will not really learn it for the long haul. Try songs, poems, rhymes, stories, movements. Ask them to tell a partner what they know about the word or how it relates to real life. or have them write a story using the words in correct context.
636474
get him to read from a digital watch
802179
Well get 2 pieces of Cardboard paper,the lined paper to help them write, on the top write- " 2nd grade reading log" and then if you want to spice things up to close it- make sure you put it the way of like a notebook and then hole punch it and then take string and pipe cleaners and then close it.(If you know what I mean) and keep doing that for everyone. Then at school tell them to decorate the front page as pretty as they want it!!- Hope that helped!
298378
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!
653048
I read a lot of children's literature before I put it on my shelf in my classroom library. Some good novels that fit your request are:\nDragon Rider Cornelia Funke...\n\nThe Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke  (Almost anything by her is terrific!)\nOh,some of my students are just loving "Inkheart" and "Inkspell" (one follows the other) These are tales of a dad who is able to 'read' people into or out of stories as he reads...interesting concept.\n\nI agree with the Narnia Series...great books.\nMy students also loved "City of Ember" and "People of Sparks"...again, Ember comes before Spark.. this is tale (kind of sci fi) where people live in this city where it is always dark, and the city is falling apart. These two kids, quite by accident, discover a way out.  Again, interesting concepts....\n\nLemony Snicket series my students love, (5th grade) but for a 12 year old, might be a bit predictable.  Story line repeats a bit by book 11 and 12.\n\nAlso, I agree with "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. She also wrote a sequal or 2 to that...One is "Gathering Blue" and the other is "The Messenger" \n\nAnother series, a trilogy, for Middle Schoolers that my son loved was "The Amber Spyglass," "The Subtle Knife" and "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman.\n\nHope this helps.
325671
If it's for religious purposes, why not just have them read scripture? It's much less of a hassle, and the older ones will have heard it enough to not mess up drastically. You could use a children's or youth Bible to make it seem less "stuffy."
637644
Get him to read. Don't force him into reading things you want him to, let him pick and choose his own material. Monitor the content though, and as long as it is appropriate, its fine. Support and encourage him, and don't look down upon anything he takes interest in. He's a different person and so are you. We all are different people and thats about the only thing that keeps our existence exciting. So accept his individuality and allow him to do his own thing. Once he knows you accept him as a person, he'll be more open towards you and open up to other new things as well. \nJudging by the name, you sound Indian. And I've heard Indian mothers can be just a bit too pushy. Relax ma'am! (This was not meant to cause any offence whatsoever)
1159145
Keep them occupied..drawing or coloring is good,make believe is another good one;like pretending they are authors and have them write stories about certain things they like;board games are okay long as they are easy and fast playing;Have them play school with each other;Play card games;if all else fails put kid videos on!
497590
Keep in mind that she is 5! I think it is a little early to take her to have an evaluation for learning difficulties or anything like that, as has been suggested by others. \nAlso, I think a short attention span is normal for a 5 year old- a rule of thumb I have heard is 1 minute for each year of age- so I would be expecting her to concentrate for 5 minutes at a time. \n\nHere are my ideas:\n\n1) Help her to be interested in books\n-let her see you reading, whenever you are reading- point out signs when you are driving, reading the instructions/ingredients when cooking, talk about looking in the tv guide to find out what's on...\n-take her to the library, let her choose the books.\nThere are lots of appropriate books on all sorts of topics (such as looking after pets, making things, etc).\n\n2) Teach the letters in the most creative ways you can think of!\n- draw them in sand with your fingers\n- let her type them on a keyboard\n- make them out of play-doh (I have alphabet cookie cutters, or you could just roll long snakes and make them into the letters)\n-teach her an alphabet song (I like "ants in the apple")\nWhile you're doing these kinds of things, talk about the letters, and the sounds they make- e.g. for B- this is 'bee', it says the 'b' sound.\n\n3) Read to her\nReading material which is appropriate for her to read might not be very interesting for her. If you read books to her which are a bit harder, but more interesting, this will help her to be interested in books.\n\n4) practice reading creatively\n- you could make 'labels' for things in your home (door, fridge, oven, bed), and ask her to help you read the label, and stick it where it needs to go.\n- write her little notes\n\n5) practice for a short amount of time- maybe 5-10 minutes. Come back to it later, rather than tiring her out- she will enjoy it more this way! \n\nI hope these ideas are helpful!
591782
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.
950669
Get some children's books  in any store , starting with the most simple words .\nA little book is much easier to take in your hands and go through all the words over and over again .
619885
Buy her a book she wants to read and can't get.  Try half.com for cheap stuff.