Thank you HarperCollins for sponsoring today’s post. All views expressed are that of my own. #ICanReadBooks
I cannot believe that in one month from today my children will have already been in school for 3 days! It seems like the summer vacations get shorter and shorter these days. This year, my husband and I have been working hard to get our son ready for first grade. After a bumpy start to Kindergarten, it has been a little bit of a struggle to get him focused on reading.
When I was his age, I also struggled to read. It seemed like it took longer to get the basics and I needed extra help in school. My son really has to be engaged with his books to enjoy them.
He prefers books with characters he loves like Clifford, Berenstain Bears, and Biscuit. These are some of the same characters that helped me to read 15+ years ago.
As a mom, and former teacher, I have always loved the I Can Read! series of books. Right now, we are focusing on “Level 1: Beginning Reading.” They truly make reading easier on children with their inclusion of sight words, larger text, and illustrations.
My son has been reading these books better than any other series which gives me relief. While he is far from independently reading, the I Can Read! level 1 books are helping to provide him enrichment for the 1st grade.
If you have not discovered the I Can Read! books, they are organized into color-coded levels. There are currently 100’s of titles featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, and the most beloved character friends in the history of children’s literature. Find these books for every level reader online, and in-store.
I personally LOVE the free resources HarperCollins offers educators and parents. You can discover FREE teacher’s book guides, printables, enrichment activities for each title, and more! Since I love to keep my son busy each day with at least one educational activity, I have enjoyed the word scrambles and matching worksheets–and so has my son!
The best FREEBIE is the 100 Tips for Beginner Readers which you can download and print. This has allowed me to take a better approach to help my son read. It even encouraged us to get my son his very first library card which he loves!
Aside from reading, we have also been practicing other skills to help my son become more independent and ready for first grade.
Here are Five Firsts to Expect in the First Grade include the following:
Homework– Chances are in 1st grade your child will officially have regular homework. This may include a reading log, weekly spelling word list, or worksheet packets.
No More Nap Time– Making sure your child goes to bed at an early time and turns off TVs and distractions to allow for 8 hours is key. My son was always so tired after school with kindergarten and would fall asleep super early.
Less Coloring– Kindergarten class was always loaded with crafts and lots of coloring. While the first grade still has their fair share of coloring and crafting, this is the grade where children start to transition to more independent work.
Increased Self-Sufficiency Skills are Needed– Does your child know bathroom basics like how to properly wash their hands, or flush the toilet? Chances are their classrooms might not have built-in bathrooms and the need to be independent is increased. Your child will need to also know how to zip their jackets, tie their shoes and other self-sufficient skills.
More Independent Classroom– In Kindergarten, most classwork is done in small groups. In First Grade, your child will likely have their own desk and space versus a group table. Teaching your child to read is so crucial so they do not fall behind during classwork. If your child needs additional help reading, consider visiting the I Can Read! website which has a variety of resources, activities, and books for all levels of reading.
Do you have a child heading to Kindergarten or First Grade? If so, consider entering out giveaway below! One lucky winner will receive 5 I Can Read! books, and a State Bags lunchbox & pencil case! This giveaway is valued at $80+!!!! Good luck! Open to US residents age 18+
This is great info. I love that 100 tips for beginner readers and the I Can Read website. Those sound like amazing resources to help make reading easier.
Those I Can Read Books are ALL OVER my sister’s house! She has three kids and I swear, those are THE books they read! First grade is so exciting! Your handsome little cutie patootie will have a great year!
Love all the books! My son read so many of those!
My family has always used the I Can Read books. I love how quickly they helped my son to read. These also gave us some great quality together time. Pete the Cat is practically a legend in our home.
We need to work on tying our shoes. My son starts first grade in 10 days! ack!
I love these I Can Read books. We have several of them in our house.
Awesome round up of first! Our son is only 8 months old but his growth is slowly sneaking up on us. I will aslo share this to friends who have kids in school.
My kids love books when they were in first grade. These are really awesome tips!
These I Can Read Books have been really important in helping my daughter learn to read. We started at 1 and have moved on up.
My daughter will be going into first grade. I can not really get her into reading much either. These books would be great to help!
I love the Danny books and Biscuit, because Golden Retrievers are our favorite breed. Thanks for the giveaway!
my youngest starts 1st grade in a couple weeks and i can’t believe it. time flies.
We adore all of the I Can Read Books. They are fun and educational. I would love to surprise my little one with this bundle.
Nice tips and ideas that parents can follow through for kids learning needs.