Every January, educators see a learning loss from over the break. It is easy for teachers to see who has not been ‘thinking or learning’ during this time. The first few weeks after break are spent on review.
School provides a routine in children’s lives to learn, study and think. Vacations interrupts this routine. So it is important for families to establish routines where the children not only read, but think, over the break.
The most important message that parents can give children is that they value reading and that they choose to read themselves. A good education is key to success in life and reading is the foundation for all learning – so it is important that children develop strong reading skills. Being able to read well allows people to participate fully in society – as workers, as parents, as students, as citizens. Being fully literate allows for more opportunities and more choice in life.
Parents and caregivers can provide their children with opportunities, resources and encouragement to read over the break. For example:
- Most importantly, provide access to books for your children. Think about what interests your children (start with their hobbies and interests). Don’t just have books in your home. Have other reading materials, newspapers, magazines on hand as well.
- Visit the library. Ask the librarian for suggestions.
- See the movie, read the book!
- Post a map on the fridge and see what learning and discussion evolves.
- Read the newspaper. Read about news events (sports, world, local) and discuss them with your child.
- Continue your bedtime routine of reading together or allow your children to read past their normal bedtime.
- Read what they are reading – talk about it, think about it, discuss it!
- Encourage older children to read to younger children. Both develop their reading skills through this experience.
- Play word games.
- Read aloud to your child – even if s/he can read independently. It is important for children to hear fluent readers read.
- Extend your child’s reading experiences – read about dinosaurs, visit the museum.
- Always have a book with you – when you are out and about – books can help ease the boredom between activities.
Help your kids find the time to read. Help them figure out when it works best for them. And relax. It is not important that they read a certain number of pages every day or read for a certain length of time. Your message should be one of encouragement and good role modeling. Lead by example. Reading is fun and enjoyable and something that you do, not because you have to, but because you choose to.
http://www.frontiercollege.ca/english/learn/motivating.html
I completely agree. We need to motivate our kids to read, to love reading and to value the importance of it.
ReplyDeleteI used to read to my kids every night. Unfortunately, as they started getting older (they are now 6 and 8 year olds) I kind of started leaving that behind due to lack of time, tireness and just life. However, these days I have really taken on the task of having the girls read to me and also having them listen to me read to them. this is part of their school assignment, reading every night for 20 minutes. The oldest one seems to enjoy it the most, since she is now a fluent reader; the youngest gets very frustated when she sounds out the words and can't put the pieces together when she is done sounding them out. I do however see an improvement. She had trouble with words like "very" and "all" and now she is figuring them out. Last night the word she had trouble with was "fancy" but by the end of the book, she began to recognize that word and had it down packed. I agree, continuing that reading routine is important and it does matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. My toddler LOVES when we read to her. She picks up books, magazines, anything that you can read or explain what's in the photo. She will be 2 this month and we definitely want to continue her love of books and reading. This is great advice for when she is ready to go to school.
ReplyDeleteParents should start earlier since the baby
ReplyDeleteis inside the mam's wound, they can listing
music and be around mam's reactions by being alert. The process of a baby's brain while
they are growing is amazing, so if their
parents taking a good care about it and have
a full knowledge how a human being start from
the bottom to the top, it will help a lot.
If all of us ( parents) follow the rules
we'll built a new frontier of children
more capable to be auto sufficient for many years to came.
The children are our future and for this fact we must encourage them to read and to continue their learning skills. This will make them brighter and creative. It is our responsibility as parents or future parents to read and make fun games to encourage them to read.
ReplyDeleteI do not have children, however, I agree 100% with parents reading to their children. My mother read to my sisters and I, growing up, and it has been of great benefit to us, throughout our lives. I plan to encourage my children to read and have fun with it, once I decide to be a mom.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. I am very glad the article has been useful and I should be posting similar ones shortly.
ReplyDelete