Research has repeatedly proved that creating a literacy-rich environment coupled with high parental involvement is crucial to a child's success with reading. Below are ways to help your child(ren) become a lifelong reader.
Location:
-Find a place that is comfortable and well lit. "If the room can be made cozy with cushions, beanbag chairs, and pillows, all the better. The room should also have space for family members' preferred reading styles—be it nestled on a couch, lying on the floor, or sitting at a table." Laura Colker, RIF Exchange Show #504. Although the reading space should be available around the clock, establish a regular time for reading to occur every day.
Materials:
-Fill your home with a variety of lots and lots of reading material, such as non-fiction and fiction books, picture books, chapter books, magazines, comic books, poetry, dictionaries, newspapers, encyclopedias, etc.
-Place a reasonable amount of the materials at a height in which your child can easily access them.
-"It is recommended that parents build a permanent library, so that children can go back to favorites again and again. Family trips to the public library can augment the collection with exciting, new titles. " Laura Colker, RIF Exchange Show #504
-Literate home environments also include a variety of writing tools: paper, pens, colored pencils, journals, colored paper, lined paper, glitter, envelopes, and so on.
-Have word games at home, such as Scabble, Jr. and Boggle. For younger children, have other forms of letters available as well (alphabet letters, foam letters, magnetic letters).
Using the Materials:
-Share your love of reading. Have your child see you reading. Discuss which books you enjoyed as a child. Make it very clear that you're excited to read, or that you are reading something for information.
-Allow your child to pick out what he or she reads, even if your child has read that book a million times; research proves that children benefit from repeated readings. It's important that children are exposed to a variety of text.
-Even if your child can read independently, find time to read aloud to them as well. Depending on the level of the book, remember to vary your approach. You can read to your child, have them read to you, take turns reading pages, have them follow along in their own copy as you read aloud, or read the same text at the same time.
-For beginning readers, point to each word as you read.
-Preview books by reading the title and asking your child to make a prediction. If the book includes pictures, look at the pictures and talk about them before reading.
-Keep your child involved when you're reading to them. Invite your child to turn pages or chime in on certain words or phrases.
-Allow time to discuss books. Remember to discuss rather than quiz your child on his or her knowledge.
References:
Colker, L. (RIF Exchange Show #504). Literacy Development Begins at Home, With a Literate Home Environment. Retrieved from http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/literacy-development-begins-at-home.htm.
Providing a Literacy Rich Home Environment. Retrieved from http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/providing-a-literacy-rich-home-environment.htm
Location:
-Find a place that is comfortable and well lit. "If the room can be made cozy with cushions, beanbag chairs, and pillows, all the better. The room should also have space for family members' preferred reading styles—be it nestled on a couch, lying on the floor, or sitting at a table." Laura Colker, RIF Exchange Show #504. Although the reading space should be available around the clock, establish a regular time for reading to occur every day.
Materials:
-Fill your home with a variety of lots and lots of reading material, such as non-fiction and fiction books, picture books, chapter books, magazines, comic books, poetry, dictionaries, newspapers, encyclopedias, etc.
-Place a reasonable amount of the materials at a height in which your child can easily access them.
-"It is recommended that parents build a permanent library, so that children can go back to favorites again and again. Family trips to the public library can augment the collection with exciting, new titles. " Laura Colker, RIF Exchange Show #504
-Literate home environments also include a variety of writing tools: paper, pens, colored pencils, journals, colored paper, lined paper, glitter, envelopes, and so on.
-Have word games at home, such as Scabble, Jr. and Boggle. For younger children, have other forms of letters available as well (alphabet letters, foam letters, magnetic letters).
Using the Materials:
-Share your love of reading. Have your child see you reading. Discuss which books you enjoyed as a child. Make it very clear that you're excited to read, or that you are reading something for information.
-Allow your child to pick out what he or she reads, even if your child has read that book a million times; research proves that children benefit from repeated readings. It's important that children are exposed to a variety of text.
-Even if your child can read independently, find time to read aloud to them as well. Depending on the level of the book, remember to vary your approach. You can read to your child, have them read to you, take turns reading pages, have them follow along in their own copy as you read aloud, or read the same text at the same time.
-For beginning readers, point to each word as you read.
-Preview books by reading the title and asking your child to make a prediction. If the book includes pictures, look at the pictures and talk about them before reading.
-Keep your child involved when you're reading to them. Invite your child to turn pages or chime in on certain words or phrases.
-Allow time to discuss books. Remember to discuss rather than quiz your child on his or her knowledge.
References:
Colker, L. (RIF Exchange Show #504). Literacy Development Begins at Home, With a Literate Home Environment. Retrieved from http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/literacy-development-begins-at-home.htm.
Providing a Literacy Rich Home Environment. Retrieved from http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/providing-a-literacy-rich-home-environment.htm
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