Reading for primary ages

[wedontneedno]

DS is 7 nearly 8. Since he started school we've always read the school books each night and a some of our own. He's not an enthusiastic reader, very much does it because he has to not because he wants to. That said he reads well. I still sit and get him to read with me and he struggles with the odd word here and there. What age should I continue to sit and read with him each night? He would never pick up a book to read off his own back...

To add...We are reading our first Roald Dahl and David Williams chapter books in terms of his reading level. Trying to get him to read with more expression.

Until he will nolonger tolerate it. Do you also read to him? My sister was in a similar situation and would stop reading and say its time for bed on a cliff hanger and her child would start reading by himself to find out what happened next.

If he struggles or is really reluctant we do a page each in turn but I'm trying to get him to read as much as possible so he can tackle more difficult words...

Hi. If my son doesn't want to read then we do a page each. Have you read the 13 Storey Treehouse series of books, my son loves them?

My son didn't start reading on his own, without me reading to him until about 8. Something suddenly switched and then he started doing it by himself and he often takes himself off with a book now. Although first choice still screens! My daughter is younger and will sometimes read to herself but much prefers to be read to. She will share the reading sometimes. She adores audiobooks though. I just make sure they keep enjoying books and keep offering them in whatever format works. I am going to try and introduce us reading together more during weekends, and pick something more challenging for them, as this seems to be the area that naturally drops off when I let them lead more

How much choice does he have over which books you are reading? Do you have access to a library and spend proper time browsing?
It sounds like he’s currently reading to meet your expectations/school requirements. Don’t ever let him hear you say that he would never pick up a book. He’s a reader, but he’s not going to believe that if you keep saying he isn’t.
When he finds what he wants to read, he’ll read - but bear in mind that what he wants to read might not look like what you want him to read. Comics, magazines, ebooks, picture books, subtitles, instructions, text based computer games, catalogues, football programmes, newspapers: it’s all reading and it’s all beneficial.

I think there is a lot of benefit to reading to them as well. They can enjoy the flow of the story and hear new vocabulary, expression etc . If he is reluctant, I would get him to read something and then you read him a chapter. He might enjoy it more and be more keen to continue.

Don't make reading all about hard work - make sure you read some books to him with no expectation of him having to take a turn. If you find one that grabs his interest, and has some cliffhangers, you never know, he might decide to read on himself out of choice.

Use other bits of reading, too - factual stuff sometimes has more of the difficult words. Ask him to read the next step in the recipe to you, and things like that.