Build Strong Reading Skills in Learners of All Ages This Summer
You may have heard the term “summer brain drain” before, also known as the learning loss that occurs when students are on breaks from school for extended periods of time. Simply put: if you don’t use it, you lose it. Thankfully, there are things parents can do over the summer break to help maintain their learner’s reading gains made during the school year!
Try these helpful tips for readers who are learning to read for the first time, or who are having
trouble reading as quickly and easily as their peers:
- Read to them. Reading aloud can develop language and listening skills and prepare them to understand the written words.
- Designate “no technology” time. Parents are encouraged to limit screen time, and how better to spend those extra hours than with a good book?
- Give bookstore gift certificates. Encourage kids and teens to choose their own books!
- Take them to the library. In addition to free books, most libraries have children’s time when a staff member reads to them, or they can meet the author. This is a great way to make reading even more engaging.
- Encourage their writing. Writing and reading are reflections of each other in terms of building skills and a love of words. A student who loves to write will likely also love to read.
- Reward them for milestones. When a learner reads their first book on their own or finishes an entire series, celebrate in grand fashion.
- Make sure they’re reading at the right level. Librarians are trained to help you find books to match your child’s reading skill level, so let them help. If you choose a book that’s too easy, your child may get bored; if it’s too hard, they may give up.
- Choose books on topics they love. Is your child really into dinosaurs? Are they captivated by the idea of magic? Ask the librarian to recommend books on those topics.
- Read with them. Curl up on the couch side by side with some hot cocoa and your own books and enjoy the silence of reading to yourself—but with someone else!
- Strengthen their core cognitive skills. Research shows that most reading struggles are due to weak cognitive skills (What Are Cognitive Skills). Consider having your child’s cognitive skills assessed and then trained. This way, your learner can face the new school year with added confidence in their learning and reading abilities.
Cognitive Skills and Reading Success
Cognitive skills are the foundational skills the brain uses to think, read, and learn. These skills include memory, attention, logic & reasoning, auditory processing, and more. Building a strong foundation of reading skills is essential to gaining confidence in learning, reading, thinking, and studying.
Our reading programs (ReadRx) give students the chance to practice and hone their abilities. For students with reading struggles, LearningRx Milwaukee-Brookfield can work on improving core reading skills and overall reading comprehension (Improve Reading Comprehension). Through one-on-one brain training, we offer reading help for students of any age.
Fill your summer with reading hope!
LearningRx can help you take the first step. LearningRx Milwaukee-Brookfield offers a way to build the underlying skills that are at the root of most reading struggles. Rather than simply repeating content and memorizing words, LearningRx brain training gives readers the skills they need to become more intuitive, independent, and confident readers. Contact LearningRx Milwaukee-Brookfield today to have a one-on-one discussion about you or your child’s needs. Then we can schedule a cognitive assessment and start building a custom learning plan!
Call 262-395-2250 today!
Check out what a past LearningRx client has to say about our reading comprehension program!
“Ben has always been a good student — A’s and B’s, good standardized test scores. About 4th
grade, I started to note a trend in his standardized test scores for reading and comprehension.
His scores were dropping 10+ points each year. His teacher said he was doing fine, but we
knew something wasn’t right. We have a history of dyslexia in our family and wanted to be sure
we weren’t overlooking an issue that would only cause Ben more difficulty over time, as his
school work got harder.
6th grade was a tough year with weekly struggles to finish work, particularly with reading
comprehension and math word problems. After researching different programs, we decided
LearningRx was the best fit to address Ben’s challenges. The insights we gained from his initial
assessment was invaluable. Everything we were experiencing made sense, and with Kevin and
Jill’s help we now had an action plan. Ben’s trainer, Maria, was an excellent fit. She kept him on
tasks and kept things fun. The tools and exercises Ben used in his LearningRx program were
challenging and provided the growth and improvement it promised.
We knew something special was happening over the course of the program— Ben’s attitude
and confidence improved, he had better focus, and good grades were now coming much more
easily. Seeing the proof in his final assessment was very rewarding to us all.
We are confident that Ben now is best equipped to handle the increasing complexity in school
work that will come in the next few years, with confidence and solid mental tools. Our family is
very grateful to Kevin, Jill, Maria, and the LearningRx team!”
St. Martins
Hartland, WI
These results are based on prior clients. You or your child may or may not achieve the same
results.
