Here are some suggestions for sharpening them:

• Encourage your child to read for pleasure. Don’t worry so much about what he reads—it is most important that he reads. Reading teen and sports’ magazines, if these are what he likes, is much better than not reading at all.

• Do your best to speak using correct grammar. It is often hard to remember to do so. But you will be providing your child with an excellent example.

• Have fun with words. For example, pick a prefix such as “anti-,” then challenge your child to see how many words he can come up with that include this prefix.

• Learn literature from movies. Your child will probably read a classic play during middle school. Rent the movie version or borrow it from your library. Have your child read the play. Watch the movie together. Then compare the two.

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