CL Parent Workshop - Reading with your Child

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The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. - Becoming a Nation of Readers, 1985

Reading With Your Child Parent Packet


It’s no secret that activities at home are an important supplement to the classroom, but there’s more to it than that. There are things that parents can give children at home that classrooms cannot give. Naming Objects At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures and saying the names of the various objects - your child will learn the importance of language. Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child’s life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk. Take the time to read with your children on a regular basis to send an important message: Reading is worthwhile.

Tips for Reading Aloud Adapted from: Gateways to Early Literacy. Retrieved from http://www.rif.org/educators/gateways/default.mspx

Prepare • Preview the book before you read it. This helps you spot material you may want to take out or expand on. • Think about your children (ages, developmental levels, interests) and what you want them to get out of the story. That will help you decide what questions you want to ask (or comments you want to make) and where (before, during, after the story). • Consider asking just a few questions if it is the first time you are reading the book aloud, so that children get to hear the story with few interruptions. Reading Techniques Active Reading – a dialogue between you and your children where you model that reading is about making meaning. Choral Reading – reading in harmony to help your child build fluency. Cloze – the parent reads a passage, leaving out words for the child to read. Partner Reading – touching the words as you read, take turns reading passages.

When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child’s life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.

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At Home Reading Activities Old Favorites

Discuss Reading

Your children may go through a period where they favor one book and want it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story, but this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may speak to your child’s interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.

It’s often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but don’t feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. Sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don’t be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you’ve read together.

ACTIVITY:

Given your children’s interests — what they’re passionate about — what kinds of reading materials might you share with them to spark their love of reading? ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������

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TREES by Joyce Kilmer I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

Concepts About Print It will help to be aware of some things we adults take for granted about reading. It’s easier to be patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so well that we forget sometimes that we ever learned them. • There’s a difference between words and pictures. Point to words as you read them. • Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read.

A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;

• Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

• Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space.

Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

• Each letter has at least two forms: capital letters and lower case letters. Our goal is to motivate children to become lifelong readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers… ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems to children.

Knowledge is power, and books offer worlds of knowledge. But reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can enrich our minds, and relax and enjoy precious leisure moments. With your help, your children can begin a lifelong relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults who read easily and frequently, whether for business, knowledge, or pleasure.

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Simple Things To Do: Adapted from: From the America Reads Challenge, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from www.travisusd.k12.ca.us/tusd/ news_archives/99_00/StartEarly.pdf

THE BELLS by Edgar Allen Poe Hear the sledges with the bells - Silver bells!

• Read to and with your children every day.

What a world of merriment their melody foretells!

• Help your children to read on their own.

How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,

• Have books on tape in your home. • Set a good example for your children by reading newspapers, magazines, and books. • Set up a reading area in your home.

In the icy air of night! While the stars that oversprinkle All the heavens seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time,

• Give your children writing materials.

In a sort of Runic rhyme,

• Read and write with your children in their native language.

To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells

• Talk with your children as you do daily activities together.

From the bells, bells, bells, bells,

• Ask your children to describe events in their lives. • Restrict the amount and kind of TV your children watch.

Bells, bells, bells From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

• Keep track of your children’s progress in school.

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Reading Beyond Books Encourage your kids to read during the summer and other vacation times. Picking up a book during summer vacation might be the last thing on your child’s mind. Maybe that’s okay—everyone is entitled to a break now and then. But taking a break from books doesn’t have to mean taking a break from reading. There are plenty of ways to keep reading beyond books. The key is to tune into interests kids already have. If your daughter loves swimming, provide ways for her to learn more about this sport through articles, brochures, tip sheets, and even catalogues. Let a video game–obsessed child read instructions, reviews, and strategy books. During carefree summer vacation, let your kids explore ways to think outside the book. Here are some ways to keep kids reading… Newspapers Many newspapers have sections geared toward kids. The articles are generally short and snappy and either appeal directly to kids or are written from a kid’s point of view. Also, keep an eye out for articles that might pique your child’s specific interests. While sections about cars, movies, travel, technology, and music may be aimed at adults, kids might get drawn in, too.

Magazines Magazines for kids or preteens might seem “fluffy.” But if they keep your kids reading, the benefits might make up for the lack of heavy-hitting content. Kids can often identify with the tone and subject matter of magazines, and the articles hold their attention. Cookbooks Even if your children would much rather eat out than cook, cooking is a good opportunity to get kids reading. Give them a cookbook and a pack of Postit® Notes, and let them pick out several recipes they’d like to try this summer. You can also make the meals together as a family activity. If you have to adjust a recipe for more or less servings, your children will also be given an opportunity to apply their knowledge of math! Comic books Comic books and graphic novels are becoming more and more popular. The illustrations and often offbeat topics should keep kids interested. Today, graphic novels have even earned a spot in many classroom libraries. Brochures Are you going on a special vacation? Or do you just wish you were? Get brochures for destination spots, tourist attractions,

and theme parks. Let your children read the brochures and get excited about an upcoming event or a potential adventure. Song lyrics Rare is the child who doesn’t love music. He or she may have already found the liner notes in the CDs, but encourage them to read along as they listen to songs. Also, your child can search for lyrics online and sometimes learn about the songwriter’s stories behind the songs. Instructions Summer is a time for backyard projects, like building swing sets, blowing up pool toys, and assembling games and sports sets. Have your child read the instructions and help you go step by step on your project. Who knows, the children might understand the instructions better than you do! Food and product labels Have your kids read the cereal box, bag of chips, soda can, suntan lotion bottle, bug spray, or anything else that is lying around. It won’t take them long to scan the words, and they’ll learn more about what they’re putting in or on their bodies. Catalogues These can be a great option if your child is exploring a particular interest. From soccer to bedroom furniture to clothes, catalogues have concentrated information on whatever turns your child’s head. Backs of videos/DVDs Have your kids select a movie based on the story description on the back of the box. Challenge them to find a good story based on the plot rather than the marketing. Adapted from: Helping Your Child Learn to Read. (1996). Offi ce of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/learread.html Ages: 5-13+

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Tips For Reading Aloud With Babies Read aloud so babies can:

Try these read-aloud tips:

• Associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings.

• Hold the baby in your lap; make sure he or she can see the pictures.

• Hear sounds, rhythms, and words.

• Play with words, sing, and make up rhymes; include the baby’s name.

• Use their senses. • Make sounds—cooing, gurgling, babbling — which will eventually become talking.

• Expect babies to touch, grasp, and taste—that is how they learn.

• Point to pictures that you name.

• Offer the baby a toy to hold and chew while listening to you read.

• Begin to understand that pictures represent objects.

• Read one or two pages at a time; gradually lengthen the number of pages.

Choose books that babies like: • Nursery rhymes and other stories with set rhythms.

• Let the baby turn the pages if he or she is more interested in the book than listening — he or she will still be learning about books and enjoying your company.

• Board books with simple, bright pictures against solid backgrounds.

• Point to, name, and talk about things in pictures. Describe what’s happening.

• Books with bright pictures of animals, babies, and familiar objects.

• Ask the baby: “Where’s the…?” “What’s that…?” Wait for a response.

• Simple stories about routine events — as babies begin to do activities for themselves.

• Encourage a baby to join in—moo like a cow or finish a repetitive phrase.

• Books that invite them to repeat rhymes, words, and phrases – as they begin to talk. • Books with textures, things to touch, flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and holes where they can poke their fingers.

• Stay on a page as long as a baby is interested. • Put the book away and do something else when the baby loses interest.

• Homemade books and family photo albums.

Let the baby turn the pages if he or she is more interested in the book than listening — he or she will still be learning about books and enjoying your company.

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You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them. — Gandhi

©2011 Catapult Learning

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