Nov 09
28
Really Reading!
In a wonderfully comprehensive book,
Really Reading! 10 Simple and Effective Method Methods to
Develop Your Child’s Love of Reading
Janet Gardner and Lora Myers
Adams Media Corp,
Holbrook, Massachusetts 1997
ISBN 1-55850-708-6 (pb)
there is an outline of simple and effective methods that can be used to develop every child’s love of reading.
This little book shows how reading is a complex process with many skills that need mastering yet mastering these skills can be fun.
The authors point out the great opportunities parents have to teach their children to
‘Really Read.’
The term ‘Really Read ‘ is used to indicate that although reading is complex there are skills that can be developed in a child’s early years.
It is important that children receive the message that reading is an active not passive activity.
“Real readers are active, engaged, alert readers whose brains are working all the time.” P4
“Real readers call upon a variety of skills that enable them to read with pleasure and get the most out of what they read.” p4
CHILDREN WHO DON’T LIKE TO READ ARE SAYING THEY DON’T HAVE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ENJOY READING
The reading skills that make reading a rewarding and joyful experience are comprehension and critical thinking skills.
The good news is that these skills are not difficult to develop but the training must begin early in a child’s life.
Gardiner and Myers outline the skills that can be used in regular reading times a parent has with their child. The strategies can be used with any type of reading material such as:
Fairytales Fables Picture Stories
Biographies Information Books Poems
Letters Emails Novels
The reading skills that make reading such an enjoyable activity are:
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The ability to predict what could happen next
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Decoding skills (phonics) and the ability to work out an unfamiliar word in contex
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Recognising the type of text being read.
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Ability to retell what has been read in own words.
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Ablility to see different points of view.
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Reading between the lines – able to draw inferences that are implied rather than spelt out.
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Ability to get the main idea of what has been rea d
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Ability to use imagination.
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Create own stories from knowledge about many stories and information.
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Know what their tastes are in reading.
Give valid reasons for their position.
Really reading is like riding a bicycle. There is a need to co-ordinate a number of skills, some at the same time some sequentially. This does not happen in the early stages of reading so much practice must take place. Eventually the reward is the ability to relax and enjoy the experience.
Reading involves constant informed practice. The key skills of comprehension and critical thinking skills do not happen without effort.
As you can see talking about what you are reading with your child is critically important.
Questions can be a casual part of the conversation.
What did the dog do that helped the boy?
Why did the Hungry Caterpillar eat so much?
Do you sometimes eat a lot? Why?
I wonder what will happen next?
When you close your eyes what does the monster look like to you?
How would you draw a Wild Thing?
How do you think her mother will feel about her sneaking out late at night?
Did you enjoy the story? What part did you like next?
Was there anything you didn’t like?
The caterpillar became enormous. I wonder what enormous means?
Do you know another word that means enormous?
How about telling Daddy the story? He doesn’t know this one. You can show him the pictures too.
Read different versions of a number of traditional stories:
Henny Penny
The Three Little Pigs
Jack and the Beanstalk
Discuss how the stories are different.
When a parent thinks about the complexity of reading they are sensitive to the learning a child has to undertake.
Really Reading teaches children to
Ask questions
Make connections
Notice patterns
Think logically
Predict endings
Learn new words
Janet Gardner and Lora Myers are highly experienced in literacy learning and share their experience generously in their little book.
They ask parents to have a go at choosing books for and with their child. They do discuss how to choose books and list many popular books for various age groups.
The earlier you start the better. Lots of parents begin reading to their baby at birth.
As you and your child read together you will become the expert on what books your child will love.
Remember as a parent you are your child’s first and most influential teacher.
Let giving them the gift of reading be added to all the other gifts you give to them.
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