Build Critical Thinking and Self-Confidence

Reading aloud to your child daily is a powerful tool for building critical thinking, cognitive skills, and selfconfidence. It combats the summer slump, the decline in academic recall and comprehension during breaks. Critical thinking is crucial for becoming a strong problem solver in any subject. Research supports reading aloud. Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and clinical researcher, conducted a study at the Reading Literacy Discovery Center. Brain scans of preschool-aged children regularly read aloud to showed increased activity in the left posterior hemisphere, responsible for visual and auditory processing, even without pictures.

Regular reading aloud enhances children's capacity to create meaning from words using imagination, a crucial element of critical thinking. It fosters innovative thinking when facing unfamiliar problems.

My 20 years in education have shown me:

• People of all ages love being read to.

• Reading aloud quickly calms a classroom.

• Stories broaden perspectives and enable children to envision solutions.

• It's never too late to start reading aloud to a child.

• The Practice of Reading Aloud

Reminders for reading aloud:

• Picture books help children understand stories using illustrations. Connect text and pictures, modeling comprehension strategies.

• Embrace repetition. When your child wants the same book, it aids comprehension. Encourage them to read the story to you, building their self-confidence as readers.

• Don't worry if a book is too easy or challenging. Reading aloud models dedicated reading time. Discuss your books afterward, sharing enjoyment and inviting your child to do the same.

• Read chapter books that may seem "too hard." It exposes them to new vocabulary, models fluency, and fosters critical thinking.

• Listen to audiobooks together if your home library is limited. Websites like www.audible.com offer a vast selection. Create a shared experience, sparking discussions.

The Practice of Building Meaning

Retell the story by drawing your own renditions:

• Drawing enhances comprehension and stimulates imagination.

• Ask questions like: What would you have done as the main character? Is there an alternative solution? What pictures would you draw as the illustrator? How would you retell the story as a cartoon? Draw a picture illustrating how the book made you feel.

• Reading aloud with meaningful discussions wards off the summer slump. It exercises the brain and provides quality time with your child. Take a field trip to the library and start choosing books now!

— Mary Ostrowski