Read Aloud To Your Children
I believe that you should read aloud to your child at least once every day. Create a special reading time during the day or evening when you can settle down and enjoy a book, without interruption. For most families, reading aloud is a bedtime tradition. For fourth graders it may be as simple as sharing a section from a book or newspaper you are reading. You could also take turns reading with your child a great book maybe before bedtime. It is just as important that you listen to your child read as it is for them to hear you read.
We understand that it can be quite discouraging to read to a child who appears disinterested. Take heart! Learning to listen takes experience. The more you read, the more your child will learn to sit for a story. Children have a natural developmental response to your reading. By the time your child reaches 6-7 months, s/he is very intrigued by the book in your hand, and would like to test it out by using it as a chew toy. This is natural! By one year, your child is learning to listen and talk about the pages, often shouting out things s/he recognizes. Encourage this! And at the onset of walking, you have your biggest challenge yet. Your child is constantly on the go. You need to schedule your reading time for a time in the day when s/he is preparing to settle down. This typically means bedtime. Once children start school, they are talking about connections that they may have with the characters or what is happening in the book. You can foster this at home and talk about what books remind you about and ask them in return. Push your child to look past themselves. Have conversations about how books remind you about what is happening in the world or how they might relate to other books or items you have read. Remember, it is your right and responsibility to teach your child about the magic of books. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen overnight, but the rewards are tremendous!
Yes! It is necessary to be reading role models for all children, regardless of their age. Your passion for books and the sound of the English language is an important clue to how adults remain lifelong readers. In addition, as teachers, we have long recognized that the way to improve students' spelling, vocabulary, reading and writing skills, is directly connected to how often they read or are read to.
One of the wonderful benefits of a good book is the discussion that follows its reading. This may be as simple as discussing what happened in the story (which helps you understand what your child is comprehending), or as involved as having a discussion about a critical scene. The best thing, however, is when you start to share ideas with children, you connect and communicate in a way that you would not be able to if not for that book. You can't easily get a child to share his/her opinion if you just come out and ask, "So, honey, what do you think about homelessness?" If homelessness is an issue in the book you are reading, however, the discussion and reaction of the child can be an eye-opener.
As teachers, we often choose a book to read aloud, simply because of the discussion that follows. As a parent I did the same thing when reading to my own child. You wouldn't believe the breadth of topics we covered over the years! There is so much important information you can gather about your child's inner feelings and thought processes if you take the time to talk about the book you just read. In addition, your child learns more about what you feel is right or wrong, and the important thoughts behind your comments, which is critical to a strong bond of communication when it comes time to discuss more personal issues at home.
I believe that you should read aloud to your child at least once every day. Create a special reading time during the day or evening when you can settle down and enjoy a book, without interruption. For most families, reading aloud is a bedtime tradition. For fourth graders it may be as simple as sharing a section from a book or newspaper you are reading. You could also take turns reading with your child a great book maybe before bedtime. It is just as important that you listen to your child read as it is for them to hear you read.
We understand that it can be quite discouraging to read to a child who appears disinterested. Take heart! Learning to listen takes experience. The more you read, the more your child will learn to sit for a story. Children have a natural developmental response to your reading. By the time your child reaches 6-7 months, s/he is very intrigued by the book in your hand, and would like to test it out by using it as a chew toy. This is natural! By one year, your child is learning to listen and talk about the pages, often shouting out things s/he recognizes. Encourage this! And at the onset of walking, you have your biggest challenge yet. Your child is constantly on the go. You need to schedule your reading time for a time in the day when s/he is preparing to settle down. This typically means bedtime. Once children start school, they are talking about connections that they may have with the characters or what is happening in the book. You can foster this at home and talk about what books remind you about and ask them in return. Push your child to look past themselves. Have conversations about how books remind you about what is happening in the world or how they might relate to other books or items you have read. Remember, it is your right and responsibility to teach your child about the magic of books. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen overnight, but the rewards are tremendous!
Yes! It is necessary to be reading role models for all children, regardless of their age. Your passion for books and the sound of the English language is an important clue to how adults remain lifelong readers. In addition, as teachers, we have long recognized that the way to improve students' spelling, vocabulary, reading and writing skills, is directly connected to how often they read or are read to.
One of the wonderful benefits of a good book is the discussion that follows its reading. This may be as simple as discussing what happened in the story (which helps you understand what your child is comprehending), or as involved as having a discussion about a critical scene. The best thing, however, is when you start to share ideas with children, you connect and communicate in a way that you would not be able to if not for that book. You can't easily get a child to share his/her opinion if you just come out and ask, "So, honey, what do you think about homelessness?" If homelessness is an issue in the book you are reading, however, the discussion and reaction of the child can be an eye-opener.
As teachers, we often choose a book to read aloud, simply because of the discussion that follows. As a parent I did the same thing when reading to my own child. You wouldn't believe the breadth of topics we covered over the years! There is so much important information you can gather about your child's inner feelings and thought processes if you take the time to talk about the book you just read. In addition, your child learns more about what you feel is right or wrong, and the important thoughts behind your comments, which is critical to a strong bond of communication when it comes time to discuss more personal issues at home.