We read instructions in order to do a task. We also read newspapers to stay informed. And we read novels to experience the literary world. State exams now require students to be proficient in reading. Children who don’t master the skills are exempted from taking state exams. “reading for different purposes”Adults may find it difficult to complete job-related tasks, or to read for pleasure as adults.

Students become more sophisticated readers as they become more analytical in their reading and more abstract in their thinking. Students learn to decode words and expand their vocabulary.

Students who read more are more likely to enjoy reading and to use their reading skills in real-life situations. These skills can be transferred to classroom learning, which may lead to higher scores on standardized tests.

Sylvan Learning is a leading provider of tutoring for students of all skill levels. They recommend that parents spend between 10 and 15 minutes per day engaging in language arts activities with their children to help them nurture reading skills. Sylvan has some tips for encouraging reading habits. “reading for different purposes”This is:

* Encourage reading a variety of texts, including books, poems, magazine articles, manuals, cookbooks and comic books.

* Look at every reading opportunity as a chance to strengthen comprehension skills.

* Identify a purpose for reading anything that includes text. This could be a recipe, advertisement, cookbook, or full-length novel. Are you trying to entertain, inform or persuade?

* Actively engage children in the reading process. Ask children for explanations of the story’s main characters, conflicts, setting, and lesson. Encourage children to explain the purpose behind an ad in a magazine. Ask your child to describe the steps required to complete a task or follow a set of instructions.

* Encourage students to paraphrase what they learn from everything that they read.

There are also reading opportunities available on the Internet for children of all ages. For instance, www.BookAdventure.comSylvan’s interactive motivational reading program is free. The program allows children to choose from over 7,000 books, complete comprehension quizzes, and redeem points for small prizes. Book Adventure provides resources for parents as well as teachers to help children love reading.

You can find additional educational resources for children from grades pre-K to 12 at www.educause.org www.SylvanLearning.com.