Monday, August 10, 2015

Read to those Kids!


It was the summer of 1983 and I had just learned that I would be teaching fourth grade at Clark Elementary School in Charlottesville, Virginia. My very first full time teaching position! At that time, I was a breakfast bar manager at Shoney’s. An unexpected thing happened after I announced the fact to a few co-workers. Toby the bus “boy” had worked at Shoney’s since it had opened and was probably in his late 60’s at the time. He came up to me and said the following, “Heard you’re gonna be a teacher. I only know one thing about learnin and that is you need to read to those kids.” This was some excellent advice from an unlikely source.

I did read to those fourth graders, and to the second and fifth graders I taught as well. This year as I was preparing to teach U.S. history to our eighth graders, I was able to sit down with Sumner Academy teaching legend Brenda Whitsell. I was delighted to hear that she regularly read picture books to the eighth graders for U.S. history. She said student faces lit up like it was like a holiday if they saw a picture book on her desk.

Story time can set the stage for a love of reading. If you do not currently have a regular time to read, here are some guidelines for you:

(1)  Schedule a regular time to read. Bedtime is good, but I usually would fall asleep until nudged by one of my children.
(2)  Have your children predict what a new book will be about by examining the cover illustration.
(3)  Vary your books to expand their exposure to different kinds of books.
(4)  Let your children participate by discussing the illustrations, turning pages, finishing rhyming lines, etc.
(5)  Use different voices for different characters.
(6)  Take turns choosing. Children have traditional favorites which they will ask for over and over again, this allows you to introduce new books for your turn.
(7)  Have one evening per week designated as reading night…no screens!

Reading is the essential tool in the attainment of all of our learning. When you model reading, you set an example which your children will emulate. Just remember to stay awake while reading!

Here are some recommended lists for reading aloud: