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Create a Craving for Reading

TastyFaith knows that the lack of education is the number one perpetuator of the cycle of poverty. That's why we are offering tips and resources that can help with these basic skills while teaching about Christ. Check out the tips below, then check out the Shortie Pages. Shortie Pages are a Christian resource that meets the needs of urban kids. They can help improve reading and writing skills while showing kids life changing scripture.

Read Stories Out Loud

Reading together will help kids form the habit of reading on their own. Ask questions that make them look ahead in the story. Anticipating what's to come will help with basic reading skills.

Call on Eager Volunteers

Read the first part of the lesson out loud slowly and have the students follow along. You do not want to put a student who cannot read on the spot!

Word Scrambles

Take a long biblical word, such as righteousness, or hard to pronounce place like Thessalonica, and have kids see how many words they can make out of those same letters. Word games like Hangman also help with spelling.

Inventive Spelling

Those crazy names and places in the Bible can turn into great "phonic" exercises for kids. Take hard to spell names in the Bible, such as Nebuchadnezzar. Say the word out loud to your students then ask if anyone thinks they can spell it. Students will most likely spell the word out the way it sounds. Write both their phonic spelling and the correct spelling. This exercise helps students visualize new words, constanent blends, as well as connect the written and spoken word.

Draw Pictures

Don't underestimate the power of a box of broken crayons! Drawing helps develop the imagination and visualize what you are talking or reading about. Great for all ages.

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Write it In Your Own Words

A big part of reading is understanding what everything means. Have kids write down a verse in their own words. This will help them with comprehension.

Be Wise. Memorize.

Do whatever it takes to get them to glue it to their brains. Memorized verses can enrich their lives today as well as help students years down the road.

One word, One sentence.

If a student has a hard time writing an answer in a sentence form, start with a one-word answer to that question, then work with that student over time to create short sentence answers. Be sure to give praise for nice handwriting, grammar, spelling, etc. If your church or youth center has a tutoring program, you might want to encourage that student to come.

One Message, Many translations.

Students might have different Bible translations. This could be confusing for a new reader who is following along in one translation while hearing another. Try printing verses in one translation for everyone to follow together. Or, get those translations to work for you. Ask for volunteers to read their different versions and compare different word usage. It's an easy way to improve one's vocabulary.

Bi-lingual means Twice as Smart

Many might have total English comprehension, and have been labeled as "below average intelligence" by testing standards. Remind those kids that they know twice as much as most folks! If they aren't grasping a concept or word in English, ask them to say it in their native language, regardless if you can understand. Then praise them for what they know.

Spotting Real Problems

Writing words consistently backwards or upside-down might be signs of a real learning obstacle. Be careful how you approach the student. Contact the parent or school if possible. This student deserves special attention and help, not discouragement!

Most important of all, remind each and every child in your program that Jesus loves them big time. And studying the Word of God is as important as studying anything else.