Some of these are not new ideas, but they work. Reading has not come easy for any of my children…not one. And while some of them are more bookwormish than others, here are some things that drastically improved reading around here:

1. Set a timer and have them pick a new reading nook from a handful of unusual places…in trees, under couches, on mom’s bed piled with a hundred pillows. My kid’s favorite place is on a random camping chair in the middle of a field. They fight over it. Don’t ask me why.
2. Watch a summary/cartoon/synopsis first on YouTube, or watch the movie (if there is one). I know this is super horrifying and feels backward, but for whatever reason I swear it works. Especially if they’re trying to read something far above their comfort level (like Shakespeare or an older book). It’s like their brain is free to actually absorb and enjoy the book if they aren’t completely confused trying to keep characters and milieu straight.
3. Let them read super stupid books. Bad Guys was a great gateway drug. It made them feel like they were reading a real book. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Dog Man…and Big Nate are all things I internally groan over, but they got the job done. Reading confidence progresses way faster.
4. Cleaned up our diet. Every time we cut out processed foods and eat super fresh nutrient-dense food, they jumped reading levels. It’s so obnoxious. I wish it didn’t work. I can never seem to maintain healthy eating for long stretches (especially because I love the social bonding that happens over food), but it’s always worth it when I do.
5. Offer to do their dishes or chores but only if they read aloud to you (or read quietly to themselves too…I’m not too picky). My mom used to employ this trick for all sorts of things…mostly music practicing. I won’t say how old I was when it finally dawned on me what she was doing. Ha.

There are of course lots of things that go into building solid confident digesters-of-written-language, and this list doesn’t even touch on the struggles some kids might have to overcome, but these are all little things that helped push the rock up the hill.