Reading can be like that. When kids take a long break from reading during the summer, they struggle to get back in the flow at the beginning of the following school year. This week’s reading tips are about how to build good reading habits and sharpen skills over summer break.

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It’s summer, but that doesn’t mean we stop reading. The twins are done with school, and on the first day of summer, they had schoolwork from Dad. They weren’t too thrilled, but they got over it quickly. They are rising third graders, so I created a rotating plan for reading, spelling/vocabulary/writing, and arithmetic.

Every day, they wake up and complete a reading, spelling/vocabulary/writing, and math warm-up. This is the only structured work I give them each day. Once it’s done—usually first thing in the morning—they’re free to play, explore, and read on their own.

For reading, we rotate through three types of assignments:

1. Endurance Reading – They read from a book for 10 minutes, getting as far as they can. We use a physical book so they can see their daily progress and experience the reward of chipping away at something big.

2. Comprehension Packets—These are short stories (3–5 pages) that they read silently before answering questions. They help me gauge their internal comprehension.

3. Oratory Reading – Short passages (3–4 paragraphs) with questions. They read these aloud to a sibling (Oliver or Julia), to each other, or to either me or Mom. This helps strengthen their external reading and listening comprehension, and allows me to hear how they’re reading. If I can’t follow what they’re saying, that provides me insight into their internal comprehension as well. A stronger external reader is often a stronger internal reader.

For math, they do basic double-digit arithmetic: addition and subtraction. Eventually, we will get to multiplication and division. Reading and math are not that different. They are both characters on paper that require skill to shape and understand. It’s important to sharpen the basics of both reading and arithmetic.

For the vocabulary/spelling/writing assignment, they work on a weekly word list, using the same words each day for different assignments. Sometimes the words are in jumbles and crossword puzzles, and sometimes, they write sentences using the words. On Friday, they take a short spelling test/vocabulary test.

The entire morning routine takes them less than an hour. We keep all the assignments in individual folders so we can track their progress throughout the summer. After that, they’re free to be kids—to play, explore, and enjoy their day.

I do this because I want them to understand that reading is the foundation of understanding. And the foundation of a good reader is good habits. My job is to help them build good habits and sharpen their skills so they will have a stronger foundation. I don’t want them to feel like they are starting over at the beginning of the next school year. While they were resistant at first, they’ve come to enjoy it.

This morning, they read stories about Giraffes and Thomas Jefferson aloud and answered the questions easily. They cheered each other on and were supportive. It is a great way to start the day!

Thank you for reading! The next Flannel Dino Story Time is right around the corner. Join me at Vita Nova on Thursday, June 19th, from 10 AM to 11 AM!

Peace & Love,

Jeff Mayhugh

Today I'm going to share a little tip that I use with my eight-year-old twins. Now, my eight-year-old twins are a little below grade level in their reading, and that has a lot to do with their effort. It's not something they enjoy. There's a lot going on in their lives, and I'm hesitant to push them too hard into reading because I don't want them to grow up hating it. So, I'm allowing them to find their groove on their own.

They're capable readers—they just don't practice as much as they should. So we set a 10-minute daily reading goal. They have to reach this limit in order to watch TV, use their iPads, or have any type of screen time. They can either read to me or my wife, or read on their own. I typically like them to do a little bit of both during the week.

Reading on their own is important because it helps them build confidence in their reading skills and helps you gauge their growth as a parent. But they’re still at a stage where they need help. So, I have them set a timer on the Alexa, and mark down the page they start on and the page they end on. While reading, they can ask for help with words or circle any words they have trouble with and ask at the end. One of my girls’ circles–– the other asks for help.

After they’re done, they come to me and bring the book. They tell me what pages they read, and then I read those same pages myself. I ask them to tell me about what they read or ask them specific questions to make sure they understood it. Then I go over all the words they struggled with. I help them sound them out and make sure that the next time, those words won’t be circled.

Reading can be challenging to learn. It is mentally draining, and kids don’t like to give their attention to something that drains them. Setting small, manageable goals that help build skills and good habits is key. If your child is struggling to practice reading, try this out. Or if you come up with another idea, please share!

The next Very Flannel Dino Story Time is just around the corner. Thursday, June 19^th at Vita Nova in Nokesville, VA., from 10 AM to 11 AM. Hope to see you there!

Peace and Love,

Jeff Mayhugh

The Very Flannel Dino is a kids’ storytime I started a little over a year ago to help inspire the next generation to love reading. By subscribing to the Flannel Dino Newsletter, you will receive updates on Flannel Dino events and tips on reading with your kid.

Today, I will give you a tip I use to help my 15-year-old son with reading comprehension.

Oliver is a very active boy. He’s fully capable of reading, but it’s not something he enjoys. This year, he’s been busy—he played football, tried out for baseball, and eventually found his groove in track. His days are filled with school, homework, chores, and practice, and there’s not much time left for much else.

But reading is still important. And it’s my responsibility to help him manage his responsibilities. So, I set a simple goal for him: 15 minutes of reading every day. Sometimes, he meets that goal, and sometimes, he doesn’t, but I’m always reminding him to try, especially on days when he does have the time.

On the weekends, things are a little different. We go to Barnes & Noble together. We sit for an hour, sometimes an hour and a half. I have him pick out books he's interested in. He's considering going into the military, so he’s reading a book on the Korean War. He also loves biology, animals, and nature—so he’s reading a book about octopuses (or octopi, depending on who you ask). He reads, and I read or work. After about 45 minutes, I have him tell me what he read.

This is key. When he’s done, he sits and tells me everything he’s learned. That turns into a real conversation because usually, whatever he reads overlaps with life, and we just talk. Believe it or not, learning about octopi got us talking about centralized and decentralized power.

Going through this process with your kid is really helpful. When they’re just starting out or trying to develop a habit they don’t naturally enjoy, they need a little hand-holding. They need reminders. They need help in the right direction.

And there’s another benefit—it helps them remember what they read. That immediate sharing helps them process and retain the information. As a parent, it also helps you understand if they need additional support.

It’s simple, but it works.

The next Flannel Dino storytime will be Thursday, June 19th at Vita Nova Coffee Creatives in Nokesville, VA., from 10 to 11 AM. This is a great event for kids 10 and under. I hope to see you there!