The ability to read well and comprehend all types of material is the key to an enjoyable and successful life. National Family Literacy Day is celebrated on November 1st, making it a great time to incorporate more reading and reading-focused games into your home and community. Once you start reading more and enjoying word games it doesn’t have to stop after National Family Literacy Day is over. Promoting reading and playing word games is something the entire family can enjoy all year long.
Fun Family Reading Games
There are several ways to celebrate National Family Literacy Day with your family. Choose a book the entire family is interested in or invite extended family members for a family reading circle. Each individual can bring a favorite childhood book to read. There are several other fun reading activities the family can enjoy.
Reading Scavenger Hunt
Each player must read a passage from books that have been selected ahead of time for clues about what items to find.
Write a Nature Story
Take a walk with your child through the back yard or a local park. Bring along a clipboard with paper and pencil. Have children write a story about what they see. Younger children can draw pictures and label the drawings or talk about them later.
Letter/Word Search
Give a child a page from a magazine or a newspaper and have them find and circle a list of words. Younger children that are just starting to read can circle words that begin with certain letters.
Promote Reading at Home and Throughout the Community
There are several ways to help children improve their reading. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) states that children who read every day have higher scores according to a variety of surveys and tests. Your local community is likely to provide several events and activities that promotes reading. Your library is a great place to get started. Most libraries organize summer reading programs and feature several story time and reading activities.
Besides reading at home and in the community, there are a variety of online reading activities to get involved in. There are several online tutoring programs to assist struggling readers. EPS Literacy and Intervention is a great company that provides several online resources including webinars and sample lessons for readers of all ages and levels.
Improving Literacy Throughout the Country
According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 32 million American adults can’t read beyond a fifth grade level and approximately 19 percent of high school graduates can barely read at all. This makes it more important than ever to engage in reading and promote literacy programs at a young age. Even something as simple as reading to young children each day can increase their love of reading and improve their literacy skills. It’s important to choose a variety of books and resources for children at all reading levels.
Make sure to get involved in some sort of reading project, game, etc. on November 1st. More importantly, remember to stay involved throughout the year by supporting reading in your schools, communities, and at home. There are lots of fun ways to participate in reading activities during the month of November and throughout the entire year.
