Category — Reading Activities

Everyone has a story to tell. Help your child develop their writing skills while telling about their life.
How to get started:
1. Make a “memory chart” by dividing a sheet of paper into three columns: people, places, activities.
2. Using the chart write a memory to go with each person, place or activity.
3. Organize the information. It can be done sequentially by months or seasons of the year.
I read about this idea in the Home & School Connection sent out by Granite School District each month.

This is a fun and easy activity that can be played almost anywhere. It helps your grandchildren with their SPELLING. It’s a version of “hangman”. Using a pencil draw a snowman on paper. Be sure to include the eyes, nose, mouth, hat, and scarf. Think of a word and write one blank per letter. Have your grandchild begin guessing letters. For each incorrect guess, erase one part of the snowman. Can your grandchild figure out the word before the snowman melts. I found this idea in the Home & School Connection newsletter that Granite School District sends out monthly.

Great ideas from the National PTA, to help your child learn to read or become a better reader.
1. License to read. On car trips, make it a game to point out and read license plates, billboards, and interesting road signs.

2. Better than TV. Swap evening TV for a good action story or tale of adventure.

3. Look and listen. Too tired to read aloud? Listen to a book on tape and turn the book’s pages with your children. You’ll still be reading with them!

4. Labels, labels, labels. Label things in your children’s room as they learn to name them. Have fun while they learn that written words are connected to everyday things.

5. Pack a snack, pack a book. Going someplace where there might be a long wait? Bring along a snack and a bag of favorite books.

6. Recipe for reading. The next time you cook with your children, read the recipe with them. Step-by-step instructions, ingredients, and measurements are all part of words in print!

7. Shop and read. Notice and read signs and labels in the supermarket. Back home, putting away groceries is another great time for reading labels.

8. Your long-distance lap. Away on a business trip? Take a few books with you, call home, and have your child curl up by the phone for a good night story.

9. A reading pocket. Slip fun things to read into your pocket to bring home: a comic strip from the paper, a greeting card, or even a fortune cookie from lunch. Create a special, shared moment your child can look forward to every day.

10. A little longer? When your child asks to stay up a little longer, say yes and make it a 15-minute family reading opportunity.

Your child or grandchild can make an alphabet book. It’s as easy a ABC. Just download the the letters, color and make into a book. You could even just print the letters in your child’s name and display on their wall or door.
Download Alphabet Pages

This easy activity can help children with patterning, rhythm, coordination, reading, spelling. Boy, that’s a lot for something so simple.
Directions:
1. Print & cutout the activity cards (at least 3 copies).
2. Arrange the cards across the floor in any order creating a pattern.
3. Turn on some music or sing a familiar song while doing each movement in order. Each movement can be 2, 3, or 4 counts depending on the music.
There are so many variations, you could even do 2 together. I left one blank card so your grandchild could create their own movement.
Download Movement Patterning Activity

This is a humorous story written from the perspective of a dog that is sent to obedience school by his owner Mrs. LaRue. He writes letters to her each day trying to convince her that he needs to come home. The illustrations show that he is really living the life of luxury but he tells things in a different way. This is a great book for ages 5-12yrs.
When you are finished reading the book to your child or grandchild, they can practice writing a letter.
Letter writing ideas:
Pretend you are a pet and write about something funny that happened
Pretend you are the pet’s owner and write about the same funny thing
Write to the author of the book and tell he what you liked
Write to whomever read you the story and tell them how you would change the ending
Write to a friend and tell them about something secial you have done

Get Word Search

This is a great book for ages 4-12 years. It’s written from the perspective of two ants who are searching for food. They end up in a kitchen where they encounter lots of trouble in a toaster, a garbage disposal and an electrical outlet.
The illustrations are fantastic. It’s sure to be a favorite.
Writing & Reading Activity
When you’re grandchild or child has finished the book they can write their own story. Pick a creature such as a bug or spider and a room in your home and let the adventure begin. If your child is to young to write, you write the story as they tell it and let them do the illustrations. Then they can read it back to you.

Even if your grandchildren don’t live near you, they can still share their favorite books. If your family has a blog or a website have your grandchildren write a review of a book they read recently. It will help boost their reading comprehension and writing skills. It will also help you to know the kind of books they like to read which is great for gift ideas.

If you enjoy gardening, invite your grandchildren to help plant your garden. This can be a great time to talk and you can use the ideas below to make it a fun learning time for math, reading and writing.
Have your grandchild:
Measure how far apart to plant the seeds.
Measure the perimeter of the garden.
Count how many rows will be needed.
Estimate how tall specific plants will grow.
Make a list of everything needed to plant and care for the garden.
Read the instructions for planting.
Read the instructions for caring for what is planted.
Design a marker for each thing planted.