A report card is often sent home to parents with suggestions of how they can “help support their child’s learning.” Additionally, many of these suggestions focus on reading development. Luckily, there is an incredible amount of web-based resources that parents can utilize to help engage their children in their reading. As an Education Major, I have discovered many of these resources through my research. The following is a list of suggestions taken from multiple year-end grade 1 report cards that I reviewed as part of my EDCI 407 course at UVic:

  • Continue to enjoy books at her level
  • Visit the library and look for chapter books
  • Read to/with him
  • play board games to maintain their literary skills
  • keep a journal to record summer activities and practise correct punctuation

The first two suggestions are directed at finding books to read. The amount of reading apps and sites online is almost limitless. However, I believe one website stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that is Epic! Books. I discovered Epic during my volunteer work in a B.C. elementary school and immediately discovered its value. This summer, I had the opportunity to review Epic for an EdTech class; if Epic is something you may wish to learn more about, check out my in-depth review.

Epic is my favourite, but it is certainly not the only option; below is my list of favourite reading support apps for use at home.