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Children around the country will be asked the same question several times this month: What are you thankful for? While some children will take the time to pause and give a thoughtful answer, many will just answer the question quickly (“I’m thankful for my family and friends”) without taking the time to consider the meaning of what they’re saying. In fact, many adults will do the same thing. Encourage your kids to think about gratitude in a different way this year. True gratitude is not expressed by simply saying what we’re thankful for. True gratitude comes with action. It is the feeling of being thankful, plus the action of reaching out and finding a way to thank the source of that feeling. This a good practice to foster in your kids, and there are ways to make it a literacy-boosting activity. Win, win! If you’d like to give this a try with your kids, help your kids write down what they’re thankful for. Then, have them take action in the coming weeks with a related reading or writing activity. For example, if a child says he is thankful for his parents, have him write them a note expressing this gratitude. If a child says she is thankful for the earth, point her toward some reading material that celebrates the earth. Have her channel her thanks into a deeper understanding of some of the issues our planet faces. Here are a few more examples: “I’m thankful for food.” = Who prepared that food for you? Write that person a note to tell them why you’re thankful for it. “I’m thankful for my pet.” = Pets love to hear their owners’ voices. Pick a favorite book and read it aloud to your pet as a way of letting him know you appreciate him. “I’m thankful for recess.” = Who do you play with at recess? Write that person a note. OR: Why does it feel good to play outside? Read an outdoor magazine or nature book and make a list of outdoor activities you enjoy.  “I’m thankful for my computer.” = Technology helps us learn amazing things in exciting new ways. Use your favorite reading tool or reading game, such as One Minute Reader , and then write down how the computer made learning more enjoyable for you. Encouraging your kids to not just say thank you, but to also act on that feeling, will help them think more deeply about real gratitude. We at One Minute Reader are thankful for YOU for all that you do to help your kids. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

If your child was struggling with reading, their teacher would let you know, right? Not always. Sometimes even the best teachers will fail to notice a struggling reader. Often, an undetected struggling reader is a student who behaves well in class and seems to focus quietly during independent reading time. The student’s grades might be decent and their standardized test scores in reading, while not as high as you might hope, are not overly concerning yet. A lower test score could be explained away as a fluke or just a bad day. Especially in lower grades, a bright student can often compensate for reading struggles by guessing and using context clues. During independent reading time, they know how to make it look like they’re reading when they’re not. This is often the type of student who is struggling more than they let on, and whom a busy teacher may not notice. Thankfully, as a parent, there are some key signs you can watch for. If you suspect your child might be struggling with reading, look for the following: 1. Avoiding Reading Struggling readers would rather not spend their time reading. If your child seems uninterested in books or frequently has an excuse such as “I’m too tired” or “I don’t feel like it,” this could be a sign that reading is challenging for them. Also notice if they’re hesitant to read aloud. 2. Difficulty With Phonics and Pronunciation If you notice that your child frequently mispronounces words when reading age-appropriate material aloud, they might be behind in phonics. Next time you notice them mispronouncing a word, ask them to sound it out for you. If they struggle to decode (sound out) the word, they may have gaps in their phonics knowledge that make reading difficult. 3. Substituting Words When a child has trouble decoding words, they’ll sometimes replace them with different words that look or sound similar. Notice if they tend to replace a harder-to-decode words, like “house,” with easier synonyms, like “home.” 4. Skipping Words Similarly, pay attention to whether your child tends to quickly skip past hard-to-pronounce words, hoping you won’t notice. Especially as texts become more challenging with a higher number of multisyllabic words, struggling readers often won’t attempt these difficult words. 5. Frequent Guessing Does your child frequently guess at words without trying to sound them out? Rather than using their skills to decode, many struggling readers rely on context to guess. Some kids become so good at guessing that their reading difficulties go undetected for years. 6. Reading Slowly When a fluent reader reads aloud, they sound like they do when they’re speaking. Struggling readers tend to read slowly, haltingly, and lack expression. They also take longer than their peers to get through texts when reading silently. 7. Trouble With Comprehension When your child finishes reading a passage of text, are they able to explain to you what the text was about? If the answer is no, comprehension could be an issue. Often, struggling readers are working so hard to decode the text that they don’t have the capacity to comprehend it at the same time. They may need to read the same text over and over again before they’re able to understand it. 8. Spelling Mistakes Spelling and phonics go hand in hand. If your child struggles to spell most words—especially straightforward, phonetically easy words—it is often a sign that they do not have an adequate grasp on phonics patterns and rules. 9. Writing Struggles Reading and writing are also closely connected. If your child struggles with reading, chances are they won’t be eager to write. Notice if they struggle to put their thoughts into words on paper, if they tend to write the bare minimum on assignments, and if their writing is full of spelling mistakes. 10. Mixing Up Letters Many kids will confuse visually similar letters, like b and d, as they are first learning to read. If you notice that your child struggles with this year after year, however, it could be a sign of dyslexia or other reading challenges. 11. Difficulty With Written Instructions Consider a child who aces all the problems on their math worksheet except for the word problems. Reading difficulties make it hard for kids to understand the instructions on their assignments. Watch for this as you help with homework. If your child needs you to explain the assignment or to read the problem to them, it might be because they’re struggling to read it on their own. 12. Physical Signs of Stress Some kids who struggle with reading will show physical signs of discomfort. They may squint, rub their eyes, fidget, or seem tense. This could be related to tracking or vision problems, which make reading difficult. It could also indicate frustration with the task of reading itself. 13. Inconsistency Notice if your child can read certain texts at their level but not others. Often, kids will sound fluent reading books they’ve read many times before, or they’ll be able to easily read text that is supported by pictures and repetition. But they need to be able to read unfamiliar, unpracticed text too. Proficient readers should be able to consistently read text at their level that they’ve never seen before. 14. Lack of Progress Keep tabs on whether your child’s reading skills are improving over time. If they seem stuck at the same level for a long period, they may need additional help. Concepts and vocabulary become increasingly difficult from grade to grade. Steady progress in reading is important, and intervention when they seem to have plateaued can keep your child from falling behind. 15. Difficulty With Foreign Languages Learning a foreign language is difficult for most people, but struggling readers will have an especially hard time. Languages like Spanish, for example, are highly phonetic. Kids who have a good grasp of phonics will often be able to decode words in these languages even before they’ve learned the meanings of the words. Kids who lack phonics skills will not be able to do this. Without the ability to rely on context clues, decoding words in foreign languages will be extremely difficult. Note that many struggling readers will have some of these signs but not all of them. If you suspect your child might be struggling with reading, pay attention to your instincts. Inquire about extra support at school, and work with them at home if possible. For kids reading at a first through fifth-grade level, One Minute Reader is a great tool for building fluency. If you’re concerned dyslexia might be the culprit, the International Dyslexia Association is a helpful resource that includes a free screener .

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Have you considered incorporating a read aloud routine into your plans? No student is too old or too young to enjoy reading along with a close family member or friend, and the benefits are immense. Research supports that reading aloud to someone directly helps that person build the knowledge required for success in reading. Those who are read to on a regular basis gain language and literacy skills earlier and more quickly than those who are not. When a caring person reads to another, vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension skills improve. Most importantly, reading becomes associated with love, which helps foster a lifelong love of reading. Read aloud time is also a great opportunity to help your child develop reading stamina. By taking turns reading, your child gets to exercise their reading abilities while benefiting from your feedback and support. Over time, you can gradually extend the number of pages or duration your child spends reading. Readaloud.org is a wonderful resource devoted to this important practice. The Book Selections page includes suggestions for every age group through the age of 8. For additional book suggestions, check out our free book lists! Gratitude Book List Cozy Wintertime Book List