Reading is learned and practiced in thousands of classrooms across the globe every day. It is perhaps, the single most important skill a child learns. Without competent reading skills a child is going to struggle to build on the basis of knowledge in other subjects. Boys who experience success in reading are more likely to become confident learners.

Parents are vital role models when it comes to inspiring boys to read. By reading to your son and having him read to you, boys see the value and enjoyment of reading as well as building language and thinking skills. Stories can aid boys to cope with feelings, build confidence and learn reading skills through modeling. I would hope that reading is being modeled to all boys from Kindergarten all the way through to Year 6.

As a parent myself, I do understand the hectic nature of bedtime! But, making an effort to scaffold reading time to become a part of your son’s daily routine will set them up for reading success. Give your son 10 minutes in the morning or evening. The reading time should be a time for sharing, relaxing and fun. Every boy will be different when it comes to their interests, favourites and the individual development of reading skills. Don’t worry if they like comics as they get older – it is all reading. Once they are confident they are more likely, with some gentle encouragement, to want to move onto reading different things.

Fill your home with reading materials of all kinds and be enthusiastic about your son’s reading. If your son is in Years 2 – 6, please use the reading line under each day in the school diary to share in your son’s success. Each night your son reads works towards in-school reading rewards . . . work together on this.

Keep regular contact with your son’s teacher and try to know what they are learning and reading. Be open to the possibility that your son may have reading problems but don’t delay in accessing help. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.

Anyway, I’m off to read about the Parramatta Eels and how they are going to turn 2013 around!

Joel Weekes
Teaching and Learning Team Leader