To Read or Not to Read…THAT is the question!

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By: Dr. Linda Bausch

When a new baby is born, friends, family and even strangers offer advice and inquire about the baby’s progress. But – how often are parents asked about how they will encourage their children to be lifelong readers and writers?

This is a big question, an enormous goal, and believe it or not, an easy one to answer!

The First Step: Model reading

Let your children catch you reading. Have books and other reading material, such as magazines visible in your home. If they see you read, they will read too. The best part is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have books. There are great sites that offer a wide variety of books to choose from, such as www.teacherwide.com, which sells new titles up to 95% off the list price for consumers.

Step Two: Read aloud

Yes – it’s that simple, that important and that big. For children 0-15, read with passion and voice, with interest and curiosity, with the love of learning and with the goal of sharing that love with your children will encourage your children to have an interest in reading.

Of course the next question is: Why read aloud?

Children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school, standardized tests, vocabulary fluency and overall intellectual growth (Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children – Snow, Burns, and Griffin 1998)

In addition, reading aloud helps your children develop important language skills that will help them learn to read on their own and offers:
• Great fun – it benefits your children’s growth as readers and learners
• Nurtures your children’s love of both the written and spoken word
• Gives you a chance to rediscover favorite stories and find new ones

How do I choose the books?

Choose books that will hook your child’s mind, heart, and imagination. Consider your child’s emotional and listening level. Books with rhyming and repetitive text and alphabet books are excellent choices for young listeners and emerging readers. Some tried and trusted authors for this age group include: Donald Crews, Mem Fox and Eric Carle. For your independent reader choose texts that are richly layered and enticing.

• Choose just right books – Help your child find books that are at their appropriate reading level. Some widely utilized leveling systems include the Fountas and Pinnel Guided Reading Leveling System (a lettered system), and the National Reading Recovery Leveling System (a numbered system). Consult with your child’s teacher to determine your child’s reading level.
o Choose topics and subjects of interest. Help your child find books that pique their interest from mystery novels to sports and non fiction.
At Teacherwide.com, you can find these particular topics and many others at steep discounts. It is the one of the single most important things you can do to literally change your child’s life.
To view my top 5 books to read to your children by age range, visit www.teacherwide.com.

Dr. Linda Bausch, Assistant Professor in the School of Education’s Graduate Literacy Department, Dowling College, Oakdale, N.Y. and Teacherwide.com education consultant