| Does your child love to read? Or dislike reading? | | | | baked a cake at the lake. Or Chuck the duck |
| Let’s remember that we are role models | | | | truck got stuck in the muck. Students get a kick |
| for our children. When we read stories to them | | | | out it and are learning word families and rhymes |
| they hear our voices resonating in their heads | | | | while having fun. |
| every time they pick up a book that you a have | | | | Thirdly, does your child like to act? What about |
| read to them. The reading choices that a parent | | | | a game of charades? My students love |
| makes and the time you spend with our children | | | | charades. It is a great game for the entire |
| reading to them and with them lasts forever. | | | | family and it teaches children to have confidence |
| Reading is the most important skill a child will ever | | | | while speaking in front of others and how to |
| learn. Without reading a child will not be able to be | | | | recognize verbs in sentences. |
| successful in other subjects or in life if he cannot | | | | Maybe your family could put on a skit of their |
| understand what he or she is reading. | | | | favorite story. My students really enjoyed the |
| As an author and educator Children say to | | | | skit of the Three Little Pigs. The students all vie |
| “Miss Betty, help me find a book about | | | | for the part of the big badwolf! |
| Ironman “or Miss Betty I can’t wait to | | | | If children are good readers they have pictures of |
| read the next mystery of Cam Jansen | | | | the story they read in their heads. If a child is |
| books”. Books have a way of speaking to | | | | having trouble understanding the text have the |
| your child. It is certain books that children love, | | | | child draw what he heard or read in the story. |
| those characters that comes alive in their heads | | | | Children are unique in their learning styles. Some |
| and are transported to a magical place. | | | | children are visual which means they learn by |
| I always ask my students what their favorite | | | | seeing. Just like the child who does not see |
| book is so I can better interpret their reading | | | | pictures in his head but is an excellent artist. That |
| levels and their understanding of the text. But | | | | child is a visual learner while others are more |
| what happens to the student who does not have | | | | sensory which means they learn by doing. They |
| a favorite book? As a reading expert for children | | | | feel the letters shapes, paint, or use play- doh. |
| 4-12 I continue to ask what his interests are and | | | | Remember parents are constantly teaching |
| what he or she likes to do? Once I find out his | | | | children by being role models, by having books |
| or her interests I show them a book that truly | | | | around, by spending quiet time reading, children will |
| speaks to him. If they have trouble reading it, I | | | | see you interested in a book and will try to |
| give them a simpler book with a promise that we | | | | imitate you. Spend some time at the local library. |
| will come to that book as soon he or she is more | | | | Go and browse the bookshelves and see how |
| comfortable with the text. I then assess their | | | | many interesting books one can find. Make a |
| weaknesses and strengths in reading so they can | | | | game out of it and go out for hot-chocolate |
| attain a passion and love for reading. But what | | | | afterwards. |
| can a parent do the help their child feel confident | | | | Find a tutor or mentor to help your child become |
| about reading? | | | | a better reader. So many parents have told me |
| One thing a parent can do is read aloud every | | | | that their child won’t read to them. Yet they |
| day. There is only a limited time frame for | | | | will read to a mentor or tutor. It is worth the |
| read-aloud years. There is always time for a | | | | investment to make sure your child becomes a |
| tongue twister, a chapter, or a short story. If | | | | confident passionate reader. |
| your child can read take turns reading. You will | | | | Want your children to live to be healthy, wealthy |
| find out that reading is just plain fun. | | | | and happy lives. Have them read a good book. |
| Another idea is to play around with language. A | | | | Educators want their children to read with |
| game I do with my students is Silly sentences. | | | | comprehension, with fluency, and a love for |
| One of the students favorite is Jake the snake | | | | reading. |