Having a tough time getting the kids to read? There is a wealth of wisdom in a series of articles in Teacher magazine by Donalyn Miller, an intermediate school teacher in Texas, who is known as "the book whisperer." She says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. Wow, good for her. The sixth graders in her class read on average between 50 and 60 books a year. One of her students last year read 300 books.
All of her students last year passed the reading portion of the Texas assessment test. She has a library for the children containing more than 2,000 volumes that even former students come to visit. In this series, she gives her secrets, talks about encouraging boys to read and gives a list of "Thirteen Books You Have to Read Before You Turn Thirteen," which was compiled by a student.
Check out the whole series by clicking here.
Seems to me that kids tend to do many of the same things parents do. That includes reading.
I tend to read the newspaper, Audrey (my daugher) has been reading the comics since she was 3.
She drew on them more then and I did not get to read the life section after she had a go at it, but you get the point.
Even if you are not a big reader just reading a book a night with your kid is a nice way to wind down. Once you make it a habit your child will beg to have you read to him/her.
it really is that simple...kids learn by example.
Hooray for Donalyn Miller! As a teacher and an obvious lover of books she has been able to instill her enthusiasm of reading in her students. Ms. Miller has also created an environment conducive to the exploration of the written word . . . whether it is just browsing at new materials or being allowed the time to read quietly. Our society has become so 'busy' with both parents working, dance lessons, sports and weekends filled with 'running errands' we have forgotten it is important for our children to have quiet time. . . not to play video games, not to watch television but to have a quiet place to read, to write their own stories or poetry, just to be themselves. This time is also a great opportunity for parents to interact with their children by discussing the books they may have read as young readers or to learn from their children about the new books now available. As parents we are our children's first teachers and it is important we take the time to instill this level of enthusiasm and then wonderful and exceptional teachers like Donalyn Miller will become our partners in our children's education.