Reading, It Opens the World!
Why should we talk about reading? It seems like everyone one understands how important it is to read. Of course we need to teach our children to read. But there are a lot of questions that need to be answered to accomplish this goal. They are:
1. What age do I start teaching my child to read?
2. Are their specific strategies to do this?
3. What are the characteristics of a good reader?
4. How can reading be connected to writing?
5. Isn’t reading automatically integrated into all the other subjects?
6. Can children read too much?
7. How much should a parent monitor the content of what their children read?
8. Should children read eBooks on a devise like a Kindle?
What age do I start teaching my child to read? You should help your child gain literacy skills starting in the womb. As they hear words and sounds they are constantly putting meaning to them. Infants respond to language as if they understand long before they can speak.
Are there specific reading strategies? Reading to your child is the number one factor for developing successful readers. A favorite strategy—shared reading, where a competent reader shares the reading with a beginner reader, is a great way to provide good reading practice for your child. Next, the reading material provided should be at the instructional and recreational level with very little at the frustration level. With a little research, teachers and parents can discover numerous strategies for teaching vocabulary and comprehension to help their children become successful readers.
What are the characteristics of a good reader? A good reader, first and foremost, needs to comprehend what they are reading. Next, they need to be able to read silently at a moderate speed and to read orally at a smooth and consistent level.
How can reading be connected to writing? Good writers read often and good readers should write often. Help children write a book or poem and publish it. Young children love to dictate their stories to an older sibling or parent in order to have them transcribe them. The young child will then spend a great deal of time reading their own writing.
Isn’t reading automatically integrated into all the other subjects? Learning to be a good reader can be integrated into all subjects where reading is involved. But it is necessary to include various reading strategies. For example, when reading a history book use sticky notes and highlighters to help the student synthesize out the most important information.
Can children read too much? You can do anything too much. As your child discovers the joy of reading they can become susceptible to the escapism of reading. It is good to use the rule that for every hour you read, you have to do an hour of physical activity.
How much should a parent monitor the content of what their children read? It is always a good idea to monitor what your children read. They don’t need to have their minds filled with fantasy and fear. Just like we want healthy food for our children’s bodies, we also want healthy mental food for their brains.
Should children read eBooks on a devise like a Kindle? These devises do give off gamma rays, so just like cell phones, monitors, and TVs, young brains, ears, and eyes, should have as little exposure as possible. On the other hand, devices like a Kindle, can be very helpful to those with scotopic sensitivity or for those who are visually impaired.
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Dear Home School Companion,
I really appreciate your show (when I am home on a Wed. a.m., which is not often!) I am a middle-aged doctor who works in an urgent care center, but also have a degree in education and have always been actively involved in teaching/children\’s ministries. In August, I was on my way to have my car serviced when I heard the program with Christine (something hyphenated!) I was so intrigued that I pulled into a parking lot to finish the program. I am now trying to obtain some of the books that she referenced on brain development, largely because I have been asked to teach a college course to pre-school teachers/child care workers. The more I can learn on this topic, the more I have to share, and perhaps, the more I can influence parents and teachers beneficially. Keep up the good work!