Growing Good Readers

How does a good reader get that way?

More than likely they were read to early in life. Other topics and subjects are also important, so I am in no way “dissing” math, science, history, art or music.  However, reading is a fundamental part of existing. Think about your typical day. How often are you reading something . . . street signs, reports, emails, grocery labels, medication, newspapers, websites, stories to our kids . . .

It is a fact that reading is a fundamental part of our world. But raising a reader goes much deeper than this basic need to function. Reading is not only a fundamental part of our world, it is a fundamental part of education, and a fundamental factor in language development in children, leading to the good, solid skills and habits necessary for lifelong achievement and success.

How does this impact a young life?
The language development in children who are routinely read to in the years prior to entering kindergarten better prepares them academically to learn than are children who aren't read to.  The countless stories these children heard exposed them to a diverse vocabulary, contextual understanding, and a working background knowledge that is critical to language development in children, and enables them to enter kindergarten prepared to learn from the very first day. 

So why not take turns reading to each other:

Find books of suitable level and interest and take turns reading to each other.  Early reader books designed with the K-3 child in mind can help motivate the beginner reader. Some books like those from Lunchpail Books are suitable for either (reading to a child or having the child read to you).  Start with Peep Peep’s first adventure “Peep Peep Comes Home.”  Besides an age appropriate vocabulary (based on the Dolch Sight Reading Word List) they also have humor and a simple (not preachy) message at the end (e.g. the comfort of love in a family)

Parent and child bonding is essential to each and every child out there, and reading with your child is a simple way to establish a strong and nurturing parent and child bond.  Yes, reading stories provides a simple and SUREFIRE way to bond and really connect with your child. 

I can't imagine a conscientious parent out there who doesn't want to snuggle with their little ones and really bond with them.  And in these uncertain times in our world, our children need more than ever to know that we love them and care enough to take time out from our hectic lives and busy schedules and give THEM our undivided attention.  Double the impact of the message in word and action through Lunchpail Books!

Give each other your undivided attention—read together. 
http://www.lunchpailbooks.com 

Your Favorite Book When You Were 5...

What was your favorite book, say when you were about 5? All of us were about 5 at one point in our lives, some a lot longer than others. I was 5 in a much different time than today. Although, I originally struggled with reading, there was a thrill of accomplishment whenever I completed a book “all by myself!”
But then I discovered the beloved “Dr. Seuss” (Ted Geisel). Reading became fun, a gateway to fantastic adventure—even a rhythmic and rhyming adventure. I learned words are cool! You can paint pictures with words.

Mr. Geisel created The Cat In The Hat in reaction to a Life Magazine article by Pulitzer Prize winning author John Hersey, published in the May 24, 1954 issue, titled “Why Do Students Bog Down On First R? A LOCAL COMMITTEE SHEDS LIGHT ON A NATIONAL PROBLEM: READING.” In the article, Hersey was critical of the then current state of school primers,

“In the classroom boys and girls are confronted with books that have insipid illustrations depicting the slicked-up lives of other children. [Existing primers] feature abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls.

In the classroom boys and girls are confronted with books that have insipid illustrations depicting the slicked-up lives of other children. [Existing primers] feature abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls.” “In bookstores, anyone can buy brighter, livelier books featuring strange and wonderful animals and children who behave naturally, i.e., sometimes misbehave. Given incentive from school boards, publishers could do as well with primers.”

5 years old for me was also long enough ago to remember “Fun with Dick and Jane.” A basic primer (beginner book) with simple imperative sentence structure such as “Look!”, “See Dick run”, etc. The stories were really boring. Although, I never thought of the illustrations as insipid, they were nevertheless uninteresting. Anyway, Mr. Geisel (Suess) responded to this “challenge” by rigidly limiting himself to a small set of words from an elementary school vocabulary list, then crafted a story based upon two randomly selected words—cat and hat. The results of this personal challenge are nothing short of amazing!

Children’s literature was never the same! Which Dr. Seuss story is your favorite? I loved “The Cat in the Hat”, but I think my favorite was “If I Ran the Zoo”.
“It is a pretty good zoo, said young Gerald McGrew and the fellow who runs it seems proud of it too!”

—This is from memory and perhaps I am a little off in my recollection—but it does speak to the power of the story and especially a story in rhyme.
Do you have another from when you were 5? How about classics like “Where the Wild Things Are”, “The Giving Tree” or “Good Night Moon” ? Think back to your early childhood— What was your favorite?