Like most parents, you want to help your child become a better reader. You have the nightly story time-something you both look forward to. You've bought your child a lot of books. You wonder if there's something more you can do.
Actually, there is. Educators are finding that many children are in need of more practice in functional reading-the kind of reading you and I do every day when we do everyday tasks. Functional reading consists of tasks such as interpreting a bus schedule, following directions for a woodworking projects, cooking, and the like. It involves looking at written material to find specific directions and information.
Functional reading is different from literary or recreational reading (stories, high interest biographies) and textual reading (informational non-fiction such as history texts).
Traditionally, the bulk of the elementary reading program has been based on literary or recreational reading. Textual reading is introduced in the later elementary grades and becomes important in middle school and high school. Somehow functional reading is not emphasized as much.
Standardized test makers have been adding more functional reading to their tests. The Stanford Nine, for example, the test given throughout the state of California includes 1/3 functional reading in the elementary grade levels.
Test results in many schools as showing that students are having more difficulty with functional reading than with other kinds of reading. As a result, schools are beginning to emphasize functional reading more than they did before.
There are lots of enjoyable ways you and your child can work together on functional reading at home. Here is a starter list. I'm sure that as you peruse this list, you will find additional ways to do functional reading with your child:
GOING THROUGH THE TV GUIDE TOGETHER
When you get your Sunday TV guide, spend some time looking at the shows for the week. Ask your child questions about the TV offerings (e.g. times of favorite shows, descriptions of shows, etc.) You and your child can make a list of shows you want to watch that week. As a bonus, your child will watch better TV if (s)he is more intentional about his/her watching rather than just watching what is on.
COOKING AND CRAFT PROJECTS
Ask your child to read recipes and directions to crafts projects (s)he does. Ask comprehension questions (e.g. what will you do after you add the sugar).
GOING THROUGH ADS
If your child is about to make a significant purchase from his/her allowance, go through the ads with your child and ask him/her questions. Look at the Sunday inserts and compare prices and features, asking your child comprehension questions. You can ask questions like, “If you had $30 to spend out of this catalog, how would you spend it?”
READING WHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT
Say, for example, you are at the park and you see a list of activities or events for the next month. You can stop, read, and ask comprehension questions.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TRIPS AND OUTINGS
If you are planning a trip or outing, get a brochure or look at a website relative to where you are going. Discuss what you will see and ask your child questions about what (s)he reads.
Whatever you do, don't abandon the literary or recreational reading to do functional reading. Add it as a separate component and watch your child's reading competence grow.
