Fostering the Love of Reading - Part 4
Guest post written by Jomary Schulz, 3rd grade public school teacher
Part 4 - School-age (Kindergarten - 5th grade)
It may seem that as children get older, fostering the love of reading in them gets more difficult. As the pressures of the classroom become more evident, children seem to only consume themselves with books that are required or chosen for them by a teacher. As a classroom teacher I know firsthand that there is a very important balance we must be able to keep with students if we want them to continue loving books. A love for reading can be easily suppressed with too many Reading for points programs, required leveled reading books, and/or teacher selected books for independent reading.
It is our job as parents to continue to encourage a child to read for enjoyment as much as possible. Children need to know that it's not about what reading level they're on, but to what level reading can take them to. We may have to be creative and think outside the box to keep them interested and curious about the world of books, but with a little imagination and some work, we can get them there.
Here are some ways you can begin or continue to foster the love of reading in a school-aged child.
* Read in front of your child. (the newspaper, magazines, the T.V. guide, books anything!)
* Continue story time (they are never too old for this!)
* Take regular trips to the local library. Many public libraries have programs for school-age children on a monthly basis.
* Have them read to a little one that may also be at home.
* Go to an old book store and browse the shelves for some classics.
* For all of you that have an iPad or iPod download books to take with you on car trips. Many apps are free or offer different free books monthly.
* Choose a chapter book and get 2 copies. Have a book talk over some ice-cream or hot chocolate once a week.
* Reward them with a gift card to a popular bookstore.
* Keep the selection of books at home big by purchasing books at thrift stores and garage sales for as little as $.25.
* Encourage your child to choose both fiction and non-fiction books.
Never forget that reading opens the door to experiences that a child may never have the opportunity to have in real-life. Help them continue to be curious creatures and discover the world through books.
Fostering the Love of Reading is a 5 part series posted on Mondays, it began on November 5, 2012.
It may seem that as children get older, fostering the love of reading in them gets more difficult. As the pressures of the classroom become more evident, children seem to only consume themselves with books that are required or chosen for them by a teacher. As a classroom teacher I know firsthand that there is a very important balance we must be able to keep with students if we want them to continue loving books. A love for reading can be easily suppressed with too many Reading for points programs, required leveled reading books, and/or teacher selected books for independent reading.
It is our job as parents to continue to encourage a child to read for enjoyment as much as possible. Children need to know that it's not about what reading level they're on, but to what level reading can take them to. We may have to be creative and think outside the box to keep them interested and curious about the world of books, but with a little imagination and some work, we can get them there.
Here are some ways you can begin or continue to foster the love of reading in a school-aged child.
* Read in front of your child. (the newspaper, magazines, the T.V. guide, books anything!)
* Continue story time (they are never too old for this!)
* Take regular trips to the local library. Many public libraries have programs for school-age children on a monthly basis.
* Have them read to a little one that may also be at home.
* Go to an old book store and browse the shelves for some classics.
* For all of you that have an iPad or iPod download books to take with you on car trips. Many apps are free or offer different free books monthly.
* Choose a chapter book and get 2 copies. Have a book talk over some ice-cream or hot chocolate once a week.
* Reward them with a gift card to a popular bookstore.
* Keep the selection of books at home big by purchasing books at thrift stores and garage sales for as little as $.25.
* Encourage your child to choose both fiction and non-fiction books.
Never forget that reading opens the door to experiences that a child may never have the opportunity to have in real-life. Help them continue to be curious creatures and discover the world through books.
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