How to crack Y1 reading over summer

[ElizabethMedora]

DD is in Y1. She is an okay reader, at band 6 (think that's orange?). When I've previously looked it up she is roughly where she should be anyway. But she is not a keen reader & it definitely hasn't clicked for her (totally the opposite to me who was reading Laura Ingalls in Y1!). I'm sure people have talked about books by post schemes or something - our local library doesn't hae much at her level & I would really like to do lots of reading over the summer in the hope it will click. So any ideas?

PS I'm not pushing her or anything, she loves stories but just hasn't realised yet she would like to read if only she was more fluent at it!

Some kids just aren't readers. My sister wasn't, still isn't. She just doesn't enjoy it. No reflection on intelligence though, she has a degree from Cambridge and has done very well in her career.

My dd takes after me and has loved reading from an early age. However, her cousin only started taking an interest after spending lots of time in her company and seeing how much she got out of it. Could you perhaps find her a bookworm friend?!

Does she see you reading for pleasure?

Yes she is definitely a numbers child not a bookworm! She does see me reading sometimes & does love me to read to her for hours on end, is always happy to go to the library & listen to audiobooks but is not keen to read herself. I want to encourage that reading so that hopefully it clicks. At the moment I think she lacks confidence too.

If she loves being read to, that's a good sign I reckon. But don't push it too much because she may pick up on your desire for her to be a more enthusiastic reader and that won't help her confidence.

The books by post thing is called Reading Chest. Never tried it myself but people are usually pretty positive about it on here.

When my son was reading orange in year one he rarely chose to read to himself. He's always loved to be read to though. Now, he's 7.5, has been a free reader for most of year two - and it's only recently that he's starting to read for pleasure. If she enjoys books then I'm sure reading for pleasure will come in time.

The library usually does a reading challenge every summer that you can sign up for. You read 6 books, there's stickers, a chart, prizes, you discuss book with librarian when you take it back, quite fun, and a certificate at the end. My dd has done this at the end of reception and year one, and it helped keep her reading and motivated over the summer.
I deliberately over summer holidays let dd choose "easier" books (for her) to read so that it wasn't a chore, and this helped her with her fluency.

I'd just leave her to it tbh. Both of my DC were reading fluently early. DD has been a bookworm since she was 4. DS I'd given up hope on has only just started reading for pleasure at the age of 9.

Magazines are always good though if you want to get her reading independently. And I second the library reading challene

I'd second the library summer reading challenge - dd1 loves it, and it's good not only for her reading but also skills like talking to a strange adult about a book, learning how to browse for something you might like etc. Last year the stickers were smelly, which was a big hit.

And it gets you going to the library regularly, which helps fill up the long summer holidays

I would leave it too. While you say you are not pushing her, it sounds like that is what you are planning to do. She is very young. You were really quite exceptional to be reading Laura Ingalls in year 1 (obviously, not by mumsnet standards!), while I could barely read at all at that age, while a year later I was pretty darned good, even if I say so myself.

DD only loved to read to herself when she hit purple and actually enjoyed books a bit more difficult. I must say I think most early readers are a bit boring, especially phonic ones.

Does she has any particular interest? DD is history mad so we normally spend ages on Tudor or Victorian books which often are easier than the Horrible History ones she actually hates. Reading is reading in my opinion.

The libraries are normally doing a reading challenge over Summer. She should read 6 books in 6 weeks and DD did easier one than I would choose but for us it was about getting into the habit. Even if your library is not that well stocked, getting 6 books she likes may be a start to get into the habit.

Summer reading challenge - if you find the library is a bit short of books, check if you can order free online. Our library website allows free reservations for children, and the reading scheme has a website where they can recommend books to each other, and search for other suggestions.

Also, my year 2 son is a reader, but he was mainly encouraged by comics and Where's Wally type books. He only really got into chapter books a few months ago.

I would leave it. My DD seemed to take AGES from being able to "read" to reading for pleasure. But I didn't push her (unusual for me) - as it seemed to make her more resistant. she got there by herself in the end and at 9 is an avid reader.

We have signed up to the Reading Chest. Although the summer reading scheme is good, our library has very few books at the right level, which is why I decided to do the Reading Chest. We have only been signed up for a week, but my DD loves getting the book packages. We read every night and use bribes (she collects stars for rewards - she is currently collecting stars for a set of books for me to read to her). What is great about the RC books is that they are all pretty managable because they are the right level (she is also level 6). If you search, you'll find a £5 discount off the first month. I think that libraries become easier when children are at level 8 or so. There seems to be MUCH more choice then.

Thanks for the replies!

We did the summer reading challenge last year, it wasn't very successful as I didn't manage to direct content enough I think so she picked books basically for me to read to her! Well, it was successful in that she enjoyed the books but it wasn't her reading! Our library just doesn't have any early phonics books, it's straight into Winnie the Witch level stuff.

I am wary of being pushy, I know I am... not exactly anxious about her reading but on edge about it somehow. Whereas in reality I would love her to be not like me, reading on the corner of the playground instead of having friends!

To those who mentioned magazines, she LOVES magazines & has two subscriptions but again she gets me to read them to her (which is tedious!).

I think maybe we will just do the library challenge with me choosing the books & her having to read them (for rewards probably!)

Thanks for post. DM has set me worrying why DD1 isn't interested in reading for pleasure yet. She at the end of reception on blue books. Am going to chill & carry on reading to her instead!

I think the key thing is finding books that they want to read. My dd likes non fiction much more than stories.

I love the scheme most libraries have of ordering books online, definitely make the most of that. Going to the reserve shelf and finding books waiting with your name on is pretty cool for little ones too.

Have a look for the Claude books by Alex T Smith, also try the Violet Mackerel series they are lovely!!!

This article is good for tried and tested tips, he really has developed quite a reputation for great tips on gently encouraging reluctant readers.

It will come, she's in that in between stage at the moment

Elizabeth:

Try magazines this summer. Let her select what interests her - but there are tons of age appropriate children's magazines related to tv shows. They have math games/ word searches/ colouring/ craft/ cooking ideas + lots of reports/ stories.

You'd be surprised how much reading is hidden in something your DD will perceive as a treat.

I used to go through a huge song and dance with DD1 (a very reluctant/ poor reader - really only 'got it' in Year 4). 'Oh,' I'd say, 'that's a really expensive magazine. Hmmm. I don't know. I'll have to think about it - maybe next time' or maybe 'let's get the shopping and then we'll see.'

DD1 was absolutely desperate for the magazine after I hesitated. First it was CBEEBIES type magazines, then Club Penguin and now I fear it's Dr. Who but somewhere along the way reading took off and now she reads nightly and for pleasure.

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It's counter intuitive but DD1 (the slow reader) worked hard on working out instructions on her various video games (especially DS) - the drive to work out what she should do and get the 'hints' meant she really concentrated.

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Don't rule out cartoons/ comic books/ graphic novels.

DD1 was hugely into Pokemon (Y3/Y4) and was a very slow reader at the time. However at the start of Y4 (after a summer of reading these things - a careless purchase in an airport sparked this interest) she rushed out of class to me and said 'Mum, you'll never believe it, my arch nemesis is sitting at my table!' - Thank you Pokemon!

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Consider reading to her as well. Go for childhood favourites or stories they're desperate to read but maybe don't have reading skills for yet. I read Charlotte's Web and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at this age. DD2 was very into the solar system - so I used to read 'fact books' about space/ the galaxy/ Jupiter/ etc.... - whatever she could find at the library/ book shops/ Oxfam/ etc...

Use your finger as you read so she can see the words your reading and have a cup of coffee/tea or water/ juice to hand. Now and then ask her to take over (maybe just a sentence) while you have a quick sip of your drink. They just think they're helping out. Gradually extend it over the summer - maybe 2 sentences, then a whole paragraph.

DD2 (now Y4) and I frequently read alternate pages (the deal is if your page has a picture so be it - less reading for you - we've been doing this successfully since late Year 2). I tend to work out the pattern (usually a book has illustrations on odd or even pages) and then chose odd or even - initially DDs got pages with pictures but gradually 'fate' would intervene and I'd get all the picture pages or would need a drink as I had a sore throat (cough cough....).

Yes I am evil....

...but it worked.

HTH