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Home » All categories » Reading Homework Tips for a Stress-Free School Year!

Reading Homework Tips for a Stress-Free School Year!

August 9, 2013 •

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The kids are heading back to school.  As an educator, I sure do miss this time of year.  I love the fresh start that a new school year brings.  Now is the time to tweak all the things that didn’t run so smoothly last year.

Today I’m joining with other bloggers to help you make this the best school year ever.   I’m going to help you with one area that your family may have struggled with in the past- READING HOMEWORK!  Here are my reading homework tips for a stress-free school year.

Most students will have homework nightly beginning in Kindergarten.  I’ll save my soapbox on homework for another time!  And reading assignments will probably be a huge chunk of that homework.

So, how do you make time for reading homework?

Where should your child read?

How do you help your child with their reading?

How do you keep up with reading logs, reading journals, minutes read, pages read, etc.?

Here are my tips for making reading homework stress-free this year!

Tips for getting reading homework done without alot of stress!

READING HOMEWORK TIPS

Making Time for Reading Homework

The bulk of reading homework involves reading and tracking the number of books read or time spent reading.  Figure out the time that works best for your family (and that might change depending on the day of the week).

  • If your children are bus riders, they could read on their way home.
  • If you have a commute to a practice (sports, music, etc.), they could read in the car on the way.
  • If you have a children who need a break after school, let them play for so many minutes (until a timer goes off) and then they do their reading.
  • Many kids like to read at bedtime too.

Find a Just Right Reading Spot

Think about where you like to read.  Is it sitting in a hard chair at a table?  Probably not!  Help your kids find their “just right reading spot”.  It can be a comfy chair, laying on the floor with pillows or under a tree in the backyard.  The more comfortable they are reading, the longer they will read.  For some very creative reading spots, check out my “Just Right Reading Spots” Pinterest board.

Find Someone or Something to Read To

Many younger children need to read out-loud to someone or something.  How can your child do this if you have to work late or make dinner or help other siblings with homework?  Here are some ideas!

  • Read to a pet.
  • Read to a stuffed animal.
  • Read to yourself in front of the mirror.
  • Read to a sibling.
  • Get on Skype or some other video-conferencing and read to a grandparent, aunt, cousin, etc.

Keep Up with Reading Logs

  • If your child has to keep track of pages read, I suggest placing a sticky note on the page they start on.  When they are done reading, they can then count from the sticky note forward and record that number on the sticky note.  The number can then be transferred to the log.
  • If your child has to keep track of time read, there are apps that can track time for you.  Scholastic has a free reading timer app!  It will log the minutes for you and then you can record them on the school log.
  • If your child has to keep track of number of books read, have a special basket near their reading spot.  As they finish a book, it’s placed in the basket.  At the end of the reading time, tally the number of books read.

Also, make sure that log always stays in the homework folder so everyone knows where it is when it’s needed!

Help Your Child be a Confident Reader

  • Model, model, model.  Little ones love to emulate their parents.  Chances are that if you value reading then your little ones will too!
  • Stock up on reading material!  High interest material plus texts that your child can read independently will equal a longer time spent reading.  Need some ideas for creating a library on a budget? Check out building a library on a budget post I wrote.

Ideas for creating a library with a limited budget.

  • When a child gets stuck on a word, resist telling them the word.  Instead, encourage her to use strategies (sound it out, think about what makes sense, etc.).  I like to hang a poster of strategies up near where the child will be reading.  This post is full of helpful language you can use to help your child comprehend what they are reading.

Sail Through Book Reports and Projects

Have you ever had a late night trip to the Dollar Store to get craft sticks for the book diorama that is due the next day?

This summer, stock up on all those crafty materials at the back to school sales.  Store the materials in a box or plastic container and you will have resources available for all those book projects throughout the year.

Map out projects when they are assigned.  Set goals with your child on a calendar.

For example, day 1: read chapters 1 and 2 or day 5: start the diorama background.  Aim for completing the project the day before it is due.  This will let you have the last day to tweak any issues.  Breaking down the assignment into smaller increments helps kids to balance their time and helps them from feeling overwhelmed by a big project.

I hope these tips will help you have a successful year of reading homework.  If you or your child ever feel frustrated with how long or difficult the work is, contact your child’s teacher to discuss the concerns.

What other tips have you found useful for making reading homework stress-free in your house?    You will also find more ideas on my Back to School Pinterest board.  Also, check out all the wonderful tips for a successful back to school season below from the Kid Blogger Network participants!

P.S. Are you following Growing Book by Book on Facebook?  If you haven’t liked us, please do so!  We have some great conversations about literacy on the page.  

apples on a burlap bag
Participating Blogs

The Educators’ Spin On It      Baby Bump & Beyond      B-Inspired Mama     Blessed Beyond a Doubt     Busy Kids Happy Mom
Coffee Cups and Crayons      Creative Connections for Kids        Growing Book by Book      iGameMom       JDaniel4’s Mom
Edventures with Kids     Kitchen Counter Chronicles    Laly Mom     Living Montessori Now     Play Dr Mom     Puttis World 
Reading Confetti   Steve Spangler     My Buddies and I      The Good Long Road     The Pleasantest Thing 
The Stay at Home Mom Survival Guide    Tips From a Typical Mom    Toddler Approved    True Aim Education
Fireflies and Mudpies    eleMeNO-P Kids
Back to School with KBN Link Party
Welcome to the Back to School with KBN Linky featuring activities, crafts, supply ideas, recipes, organization, books and MORE to get your family ready for the upcoming school year! Link up your kid-friendly posts to have them featured on 27 blogs who are members of the Kid Blogger Network.  We invite you to visit the participants, leave a comment, and share on social media!  You’re encouraged to grab the button or link back when you share.  Thank you so much for sharing your Back to School Resources!   
*By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

 

 

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Filed Under: All categories, Reading Fun Tagged With: back to school, homework

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Comments

  1. OLIVIA says

    February 18, 2019 at 5:06 am

    They have gotten pretty good at carving out time in little pockets. I think it’s important to learn efficiency young! They’re much better at it than I was! Visiting from the Back to School Traditions Link Up!

  2. Jacquie@KCEdventures says

    August 25, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing at the Discover & Explore linky – I’ll be featuring you this week 🙂

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 26, 2013 at 2:36 pm

      Jacquie, thanks so much!

  3. Kate Hutson says

    August 25, 2013 at 6:57 am

    Great tips! My sister, JDaniel 4s mom, recommended the site. I will be back. Thanks!

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 25, 2013 at 7:40 am

      Welcome Kate! I’m so glad you found Growing Book by Book. I’m a big fan of JDaniel 4’s Mom and so appreciative that she recommended my blog to you. I hope you find lots of useful ideas. Enjoy exploring!

  4. Megan says

    August 24, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    YES!!! These are great tips!!!! Pinning!

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 24, 2013 at 8:57 pm

      Thank you so much Megan!

  5. Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning says

    August 23, 2013 at 5:22 am

    These are excellent tips. I love the idea of using Skype to practice reading. Kids will love that! Thanks for linking to Discover and Explore. I’m featuring your post today on Fantastic Fun and Learning.

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 23, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      Thanks Shaunna! I love the Discover and Explore link-ups. You guys have such great topics planned.

  6. Aly says

    August 18, 2013 at 8:23 am

    Hi i found you through Mum Of One parenting Pint it Party.I’ve pinned this onto one of my boards.You can follow me on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/plus2point4/boards/

  7. Michelle says

    August 13, 2013 at 8:34 am

    My kids read at bedtime and because of their sports schedules (especially my daughter because we travel a ways for her sports team practices) often do homework in the car. They have gotten pretty good at carving out time in little pockets. I think it’s important to learn efficiency young! They’re much better at it than I was! Visiting from the Back to School Traditions Link Up!

  8. Mum of One says

    August 12, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    What great tips! I am now following on pinterest and I think your boards are great and will be really useful with my little ones. Thanks for linking up to the pin it party. I have pinned and shared 🙂

  9. melissa says

    August 10, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    Great resource! Pinned!

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 10, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      Thank you so much Melissa for pinning the post!

  10. Kristi@Creative Connections for Kids says

    August 10, 2013 at 6:25 am

    This post is an excellent resource in so many ways. Parents modeling is so important. I love your idea about having craft supplies on hand.

  11. JDaniel4's Mom says

    August 10, 2013 at 5:33 am

    Putting a sticky note on your starting page is a brilliant idea!

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 10, 2013 at 9:35 pm

      Isn’t it so simple, but so helpful!

  12. Erica says

    August 9, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Hi Jodie! I enjoyed reading your post! I have a new Kindergartener, so this will be my first year experiencing homework. Thanks for such great tips. Also, I’m from eLeMeNO-P Kids, and I noticed that my name above is missing the “e” 🙂

    • JodieRodriguez says

      August 9, 2013 at 9:57 pm

      Erica, I hope you find the ideas useful and good luck to the start of a new school year. I also corrected the spelling of your blog. Sorry for the mistake!

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