5 Ways to Help Boost Your Child’s English Language Arts Skills
- Read, read, read
Reading is perhaps one of the most valuable tools to advance ELA skills. But don’t just have your child read anything. Help them pick a text that is at their level or slightly above. Reading below one’s level isn’t going to expose them to a larger vocabulary set nor test their comprehension skills. As books increase in difficulty, the plot, messages and character development grow increasingly more complex.
2. Make use of technology
Technology has a number of uses and functions. We can learn how to do home projects, connect with old friends, find souffle recipes and so much more. Technology allows us to further our educational pursuits by making learning easy and entertaining. On tablets like the Tanoshi 2-in-1, children have access to spelling and reading apps that they can utilize virtually anywhere they go. The Tanoshi 2-in-1 comes with Google Suite applications preloaded onto the device, allowing kids to practice their writing skills as they have a platform on which they can write short stories, poems and essays. Amazon’s Kindle app allows you take your family’s books wherever you go. After you purchase and download a book there’s no need to worry about connecting to Wi-Fi. You could have 10 books all on one device accessible from the car or at the pool.
3. Spontaneous spelling
Say you’re in the car and you drive past a sign or a restaurant. Ask your child to spell out whatever comes to mind as you navigate town. If you have multiple kids in the car, spontaneous spelling could turn into an elaborate competition. It’ll make spelling practice more natural and less like a chore or part of homework time if you incorporate spelling practice into everyday life.
4. Make it fun
Play games that involve words or reading. Maybe everyone in the house has a book to read. Who will finish their book first? How many books can each family member read by November. If your child is younger, ask them to tell you about what happened in the book or each chapter to ensure they have a good understanding of what’s going on and not just turning the pages. Verbalizing what one just read is a good comprehension test and it forces them to slow down to better process the story. The games you play don’t have to just be reading involved. Scrabble and Last Word are top board game choices that will encourage your child to build their vocabulary.
5. Get on the type hype
Having familiarity with a computer and a keyboard is critical for 21st century learners. Getting practice using typing programs on the internet or typing applications will certainly help your child develop computer skills along with spelling ability.
