Ways to Create Remarkable Readers in Homeschool |

Incorporating Reading into Your Homeschooling Routine

Reading is one of the best tools for homeschooling. It helps kids learn new things, use their imagination, and think better. For parents teaching kids aged 8-18 at home, making reading a big part of the curriculum can make learning much better. Here’s how you can add reading to your homeschooling, why it’s important to read different kinds of books, how to check if your child understands what they read, and why it’s good to mix classic books with books your child chooses.

The Importance of Reading in Homeschooling

Reading is fundamental to education. It enhances vocabulary, improves concentration, and nurtures creativity. When children read regularly, they are more likely to perform better in other subjects, including math and science. For homeschooling parents, incorporating reading into daily lessons helps create a balanced and comprehensive educational experience.

Diverse Reading: Why It Matters

Introducing children to a wide range of books is crucial. Diverse reading includes books from different genres, cultures, perspectives, and time periods. This exposure helps children develop empathy, understanding, and a broader worldview. For example, reading historical fiction can bring history lessons to life, while science fiction can spark an interest in STEM subjects.

Common Sense Media is an excellent resource for finding book lists that include diverse and age-appropriate titles. They offer reviews and age ratings that can help you choose the right books for your child’s reading level and interests.

How to Incorporate Reading into Your Homeschooling Schedule

Daily Reading Time: Set aside a specific time each day for reading. This can be individual reading or reading aloud together. Consistency is key to developing a habit.
Thematic Reading: Integrate reading with other subjects. For example, if you are studying ancient civilizations, include historical novels or non-fiction books on the topic.
Reading Challenges: Create fun challenges to encourage reading. Set goals like reading a certain number of books each month or exploring new genres.

Literature Packs from Teacher Jade’s Writing Academy

For homeschooling families looking for structured literature resources, Teacher Jade’s Writing Academy offers comprehensive literature packs. These packs include a study guide, vocabulary worksheets, grammar worksheets, interactive quizzes, and cross-curricular projects. You can also request custom literature packs tailored to your child’s specific needs and interests. These resources are designed to make incorporating literature into your homeschooling routine easier and more effective.

Checking Reading Comprehension

Ensuring your child understands what they read is just as important as the reading itself. Here are some strategies:

Discussion: After your child finishes a book, discuss it with them. Ask open-ended questions about the plot, characters, and their opinions.
Summaries: Have your child write a summary of the book or a chapter. This practice helps reinforce their understanding and recall.
Projects: Encourage creative projects based on the books they read. This could be drawing scenes, acting out parts of the story, or even creating a book report.

Mixing Classics with Personal Choices

While classic literature offers timeless lessons and rich language, allowing your child to choose some of their own reading material is also important. This mix ensures they get the benefits of classic literature while also enjoying their personal interests, which keeps reading enjoyable and engaging.

Classics: Books like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “Little Women” are excellent choices that provide valuable life lessons and a glimpse into different historical contexts.
Personal Choices: Let your child pick books that interest them. This could include contemporary fiction, graphic novels, or books on hobbies and interests.

Websites like Goodreads and Scholastic can help you find both classic and contemporary book recommendations suitable for your child’s age and interests.

Resources for Finding Good Books

Common Sense Media: Offers reviews, age ratings, and lists of books that are suitable for different age groups.
Goodreads: A community-driven site where you can find lists and reviews of both classic and contemporary books.
Scholastic: Provides a variety of book lists based on age and grade level, along with resources for parents and educators.