Field trips related to reading. Hands-on learning is often the best type of instruction. If your child is in the middle of book about space travel, consider planning a trip to the American Museum of Natural History’s Planetarium. Once he has finished reading the book, he will be enthralled by the way that his literary knowledge matches a real world event. This will encourage him to continue reading in the future.
Boys And ADHD
Another, often less discussed issue with boys’ reading is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We all know that reading takes concentration, without it you can’t get to the end of a sentence. What many people don’t realize is that while ADHD is a common behavioral disorder that affects between 8-10% of school age children, boys are three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD.
Of course, only a tiny fraction of boys have ADHD, but this fraction is significantly larger than the fraction of girls that have ADHD. This can also account for the differences in proficiency in boys’ and girls’ reading scores. Therefore, if you notice that your son is unable to focus, is easily distracted, and often fidgets, consider getting him tested for ADHD. His lack of reading skills could be attributed to a surmountable learning disability.
No part of society – parents, teachers, librarians, community members – wants to see boys subsist on a lifetime of reading deficits, especially as more and more jobs require higher levels of literacy. So, let’s work together to help our boys read to their fullest potential!
