Reading Together Equals Success!
by Krista Nail
August 26, 2009
Several summers ago, when my little boy was entering Kindergarten, I read a book titled The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. The book emphasized the importance of reading aloud to children, and the profound, positive impact of sharing stories.
Shortly after starting Trelease's book, I started to feel concerned! His book is filled with facts as to why reading books to your child is essential to their academic success. Had I read-aloud enough to my child? Had I read enough to my students?
According to the Commission on Reading and their report Becoming a Nation of Readers, reading aloud to children is the single most important activity to increase reading motivation. Wow! By simply reading a story aloud to a child I am helping them learn to love to read? Absolutely!
Reading aloud to a child helps:
-lay the foundation for educational success in all academic areas.
-link the child to a positive role model (the reader).
-create a bond between the reader and the child.
-increase listening comprehension and attention span.
-develop a rich vocabulary.
-stimulate imagination, creativity, and curiosity.
-increase self esteem.
The best thing, however, is that reading together is fun! Children learn that reading can be a source of pleasure when they listen to stories. And you only need about 10 minutes a day!
You can make reading together extra special by finding a cozy place to read together, choosing a variety of reading materials (comics, picture books, recipes, newspapers, sports stories, etc.), gathering friends to listen to the story, or simply sharing one-on-one time! The most important thing to remember is that it is never too early, or too late, to begin reading aloud together. Children from birth to teen benefit from hearing stories!
So, why not make a commitment to read together each and every day, starting today? Your decision will have a huge impact on your child's success in school... and in life!
Reference: The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.
