Today, I want to share some thoughts on reading. I know that sometimes we think, "Do we really need to make our kids read every night?" However, it is so important! I want to share this image with you to show the importance of reading 20 minutes every night.
As you can see, in order for a child to become a better reader, they need to read. I know some children have not discovered a love for reading yet. But hold on... they will once they find something that interests them. This is why it is important to give them all kinds of material to read. Children may love mysteries, realistic fiction, funny books, comics, sports magazines, poetry, non-fiction, or something not even listed here. Children need a variety of reading material, but you don't need to buy a lot of books. The school library and the public library are a great resource.
Just Right Books!
It is very important that the material your child reads is not too hard for them. One way to determine this is by asking your child's teacher what level your child is reading. If that is not available, you can use the five finger rule. If your child does not know five words on a page, then it is too hard for them. It is also important that your child can tell you about what they read. Be sure to ask your child to tell you some details about what they have read. If this is too difficult for them to do at the end of the book, then you could try having your child tell you what happened at the end of each page or at the end of each chapter. Reading comprehension is so important!
Time to Read!
I would encourage you to set a certain time for reading every day. You could take turns reading with your child. You could also read a book to your child, and then let them read a book to you. As they get older, you can still read to your child. However, they may want to curl up and read a chapter book on their own. Older children may even want to read to their younger siblings. Reading time can look different each day and that's ok as long as they are reading!
An Excellent Resource!
Children gain so much from being read to by an adult. However, during these days of at home learning, you may be trying to work from home and make sure your child completes their school work. You may not always have time to read to your child as much as they would like. There is a great website where children can listen to the author of a book read their book aloud. It is found at https://www.storylineonline.net/. It is a great resource!
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