A great educational experience starts with a good and solid foundation. A foundation is crucial in building a solid house, the same happens with a child's education, in order to have a solid love for learning it is crucial that every child learns how to read, and read well (this includes comprehension).
Once the children are taught to read and enjoy doing so, they can explore the world around them.
The teacher Nancy Sorensen is an expert helping children to succeed in reading. All the children call her Mrs. Sorensen, with a lot of respect! She could have been retired, but her passion for teaching doesn't let her rest. Nancy Sorensen is a wife, mother of 7, beloved grandma and a passionate TEACHER. She is also the author of the program Succeeding with Reading.
She shares with us ways that will make your child awake or increase a love for reading. Here they are:
1. Enjoy reading with your child! Yep! Do it with them. Choose a comfy spot of your home, get your favorite blanket and start reading for or with your child. Reading isn't be only about stories, but about the connection between parent and children. Start building memories with your children through books. If you live in a tropical place or have a hot summer, try reading on a hammock with a cold juice! Establish a routine today!
2. Choose books that are fun and appropriate for the child's age.
Pick books that have family stories, humor, and things that the child is going through this stage of life. For example. a book about a lose tooth or about a child that loves camping, etc. Children have a great imagination, and they love to see themselves in the books.
3. Choose books that are suited for their reading level.
This is VERY important (specially for those children learning how to read). Reading is not fun if it is too hard. Build upon on what they already know. Choose books that they can read most of it independently, they will feel proud and confident, and will want to learn more!
4. Turn off the TV or other eletrocnics.
It's really hard to compete with things that don't need much thinking and are very entertaining. Set a limit time for television and games. If they have one hour of TV a day for example, read with them before that, so they won't feel that reading is a punishment right after you turn off the TV.
4. Get excited about reading and read to your child 5-7 times a day.
When was the last time you devoured a book yourself? Give an example to them and read some of your own book out loud. Also, read cereal box, letters, notes, recipes and everything else is part of your day to your child.
5. Take trips to your local library.
Make this trip fun, and let them explore books. Let them CHOOSE books as well. If possible have a library bag for each child to carry. If you are an advocate of ebooks, let them choose as well. Whenever you decide, let your children be part of it.
I hope this will inspire your day and your children and always remember to have fun with the children!
Nancy Sorensen loves to help and has offered to answer any question that parents might have related to reading. This is her email address: sorensenreading@gmail.com.
Do you do anything that works really well with your children? Leave us a comment, we would love to hear from you.
Sometimes while we're reading a familiar book with the kids, my husband or I will add or change something in the story, to see if the children are paying attention. When we're in a really silly mood, we'll read the entire book in "opposites". For instance, if the story says "Steven was so happy to be with all his friends" we'd read "Steven was so sad to be all alone". The children always giggle hysterically and try to correct us.
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