Incorporating Reading with Technology

As we've already talked about, there are several ways to encourage teens to read.  One very important method of promoting reading is by catering the reading to your teen's interests.  As most teens spend a lot of time on the internet, why not encourage teens to talk about reading while on the web?

There are several sites that allow teens to discuss what they are reading with other teens.  

Live Wire Teen Forum- This is a great site with discussions about current reads as well as favorite authors and books.

Chicago Public Library: Book Reviews for Teens- Book reviews by teens, for teens.

Readergirlz- Literacy and social media project for teens.  There are literally thousands of posts on this blog discussing teen reads, with over 600 current followers.

Books for Teens

Continuing on our discussion of teen reading, the Young Adult Library Services Association has a wonderful site called Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers.  Every year, the association chooses a list of books that are found to be appealing for adolescents (ages 12-18) who typically would avoid reading.  Anyone can nominate a book, and a committee from ALA votes on the top choices each year.  The committee looks at several criteria such as physical appearance (for example, a book should have a catchy cover and sufficiently large print for easy reading) and style (clear writing with simple vocabulary).  Fiction books should have a "hook" at the beginning of the story, high-interest characters, familar themes, and touches of humor.  Informational books should be objective and accurate, with technical language when appropriate.



Here are the top 10 books for 2010:

1) Blackshaw, Ric and Farrelly, Liz. Street Art Book: 60 Artists in Their Own Words. HarperCollins. 2009.

2) Brown, Marvelyn. The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive. Amistad. 2008.


3) Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry. Walker Books. 2008.


4) Knowles, Jo. Jumping Off Swings. Candlewick Press. 2009.


5) Myers, Walter Dean. Dope Sick. Amistad. 2009.


6) Regan, Sally. The Vampire Book. DK Books. 2009.


7) Smith, Alexander Gordon. Lockdown: Escape from Furnace. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2009.


8) Fagerstrom, Derek and Smith, Lauren. Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know Instructions for Life From the Everyday to the Exotic. Collins Design, 2008.


9)Von D, Kat. High Voltage Tattoo. HarperCollins. 2009.


10) Willin, Melvyn. Paranormal Caught on Film. David and Charles. 2008.


If you have a teen who is reluctant to read, check out the full list to find books that may be of interest to them.

What About Teenagers?

So far in this blog, we've discussed a lot of ways that parents can help encourage their young children to read.  But what about older kids?  Many adolesecents may claim to dislike reading.  Maybe they struggled with the mechanics of reading when they were younger, and did not get the practice they needed for reading to become an enjoyable activity.  Or perhaps these kids view reading as something they have to do for school and don't realize that reading can be fun as well.

The following tips from All About Adolescent Literacy list ways parents can help to encourage a love of reading in their teenagers:

1. Set an example. Let your kids see you reading for pleasure.

2. Furnish your home with a variety of reading materials. Leave books, magazines, and newspapers around. Check to see what disappears for a clue to what interests your teenager.

3. Give teens an opportunity to choose their own books . When you and your teen are out together, browse in a bookstore or library. Go your separate ways and make your own selections. A bookstore gift certificate is a nice way of saying, "You choose".

4. Build on your teen's interests. Look for books and articles that feature their favorite sports teams, rock stars, hobbies, or TV shows. Give a gift subscription to a special interest magazine.

5. View pleasure reading as a value in itself. Almost anything your youngsters read — including the Sunday comics — helps build reading skills.

6. Read some books written for teens. Young adult novels can give you valuable insights into the concerns and pressures felt by teenagers. You may find that these books provide a neutral ground on which to talk about sensitive subjects.

7. Make reading aloud a natural part of family life. Share an article you clipped from the paper, a poem, a letter, or a random page from an encyclopedia — without turning it into a lesson.

8. Acknowledge your teen's mature interests. Look for ways to acknowledge the emerging adult in your teens by suggesting some adult reading you think they can handle.

9. Keep the big picture in mind. For all sorts of reasons, some teenagers go through periods without showing much interest in reading. Don't panic! Time, and a few tips from this brochure, may help rekindle their interest.

Tips for Reading with your Child

Last time, we talked about strategies you can teach your child to help them select appropriate books for their reading level.  What should you do if your child selects a book, but then still struggles to read it?  Reading Rockets has some great tips:

When they can't read the word, say…

• Can you sound it out?
• Fingertap it.
• Can you think of the word or movement that helps you remember that vowel sound?
• What is the first and last sound? What word would make sense?
• Does it have a pattern that you have seen in other words? (ex-an, ack)
• How does the word begin?
• You said_______. Does that make sense?
• What word would make sense that would start with these sounds?
• Put your finger under the word as you say it.

When they want to read a book that is too hard, say…

• Let's read it together.
• This is a book you will enjoy more if you save it until you are older — or later in the year.
• [Be honest!] When people read books that are too hard for them, they often skip important parts. You will have more fun with this book if you wait until you can read it easily.

Helping Your Child Select Books

If your child is just beginning to read, or is having some troubles with reading, they may have a hard time choosing a book that is appropriate for their reading level.  Kids sometimes pick books that are too difficult for them, then give up on reading when they realize that it's just too hard.  It's important for kids to have books that they are able to read so that they see reading as a fun activity, not as work. 

Here are a few techniques provided by Reading Rockets that kids can use to help them choose books that are suitable for them. 

Five finger rule

1. Choose a book that you think you will enjoy.
2. Read the second page.
3. Hold up a finger for each word you are not sure of, or do not know.
4. If there are five or more words you did not know, you should choose an easier book.

Still think it may not be too difficult? Use the five finger rule on two more pages.

Choose a book that is a good fit for you!

Read two or three pages and ask yourself these questions:

Will it be an easy, fun book to read?

• Do I understand what I am reading?
• Do I know almost every word?
• When I read it aloud, can I read it smoothly?
• Do I think the topic will interest me?

If most of your answers were "yes", this will be an easy book to read independently by yourself.

Will this book be too hard for me?

• Are there five or more words on a page that I don't know, or am unsure of?
• Is this book confusing and hard to understand by myself?
• When I read it aloud, does it sound choppy and slow?

If most of your answers were "yes," this book is too hard. You should wait awhile before you read this book. Give the book another try later, or ask an adult to read the book to you.

Literacy Activity Cards

In the last few posts, we've discussed improving the literacy environment for young children at home.  Another great way to improve the literacy of pre-school children is through one-on-one activities, such as these Get Ready to Read! Literacy Activity Cards.  Each cards have instructions for fun games that parents and caregivers can play with children to develop upon reading skills.  Examples of the activities include making books or reading puppets; playing rhyming games; and completing word puzzles.

 

Each card lists materials needed to complete the activity as well as step-by-step instructions.  An explanation of the benefits of the activity is also provided.  Cards are broken down by skill area and skill level.

Skill Areas

                Linguistic Awareness- understanding of how language works.  Rhyming, letter sounds, counting the words in a sentence

                Print Concepts- understand of books and printed letters and words.  Identifying letters, knowing  how books work

                Emergent Writing- attempts to use letters to represent language, writing own name

Skill Level

                Beginning Cards

                Making Progress

                Ready to Read Cards

How to Create a Home Library

So you completed the Home Literacy Checklist and found out that your child's literacy environment could use some improvement.  What do you do now?  Create a home library!

This article from Reading Rockets gives you some great tips on getting started.  There's no need to go buy a bunch of brand-new books- there are many ways you can start up a library without spending a lot of money.

Finding books

• Become a treasure hunter! Browse book store sales, garage sales, flea markets, used book stores, and sales at your local library
• Organize a children's book swap with friends, community groups, or your school
• Encourage family and friends to give books as gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations
• Don't forget quality nonfiction and children's magazines!

Building your library

• A cardboard box or small wooden packing crate that you can decorate together might make a good bookcase. Or you might clear one of the family bookshelves.
• Pick a special place for your child's books so that she knows where to look for them - in a cozy corner of your child's bedroom or close to where the rest of the family gathers and reads if your child is very social.
• Help your child to arrange her books in some order - her favorite books, books about animals, or holiday books. Use whatever method will help her most easily find the book she's looking for.
• "This book belongs to…" Bookplates give your child a sense of ownership and can add "newness" to a used book. You can make your own or download and print one of these colorful designs by children's book illustrators.
• If you and your child make your own books together, you can add those to your home library.
• Borrow books from your local library. Go to the children's section and spend time with your child reading and selecting books to take home and put in her special spot. You might even have a box or space just for library books, so that they don't get mixed up with your child's own books.

Is Your Home Literacy Friendly?

According to Get Ready to Read!, learning to read begins way before a child enters school.  As a child's first teacher, parents can ensure that children are exposed to things that promote strong pre-reading skills.  Wondering what you can do to establish a supportive environment for your child's reading at  home? 

This checklist provided by Get Ready to Read! helps you to identify what supportive strategies and what you can improve upon.   The checklist has you answer "true" or "false" to items such as:

• I or another adult in the house read a picture book with my child at least once a week.
• I or another adult in the house help my child learn to write letters of the alphabet.
• My child has at least one alphabet book (e.g., Dr. Seuss's ABC book).
• My child sees me or another adult in the house reading books, magazines or the newspaper at least once a week.

After completing the survey, count up the number of items marked as "true."  The scoring guide gives you an idea of how you are doing:

30 - 37 Home literacy environment has most of the necessary supportive elements

20 - 29 Home literacy environment has many supportive elements

11 - 19 Home literacy environment has some supportive elements

0 - 10 Home literacy environment needs improvement

Online Games for Early Literacy Skills

Online games can be a fun, interactive way for young children to learn the skills they will need in order to begin reading.  Get Ready to Read! has games that address three levels of early literacy skills.  

Gus and Inky’s Underwater Adventure This game is a great way for young children to be introduced to rhyming words, practice word recognition, and learn letter names and sounds.

Rhyme Time  Kids can develop their rhyming skills by helping Gus write his first hip-hop song.

Wild Word Round Up  In this game, children learn to listen for the sounds in words.  The game provides practice in skills like sound blending and identifying beginning and ending sounds

Raising Readers Video

    

I recently came acoss a video called "Raising Readers" at GetReadytoRead.org. 

According to the website, the Get Ready to Read! program works to build the early-literacy skills of pre-school age children.

The video shows some fun activites that parents can do with their young children who are getting ready to read.  Activities include playing listening games, reading before bedtime, and making your own books.  Practicing these skills at home will give children a jump-start in thier literacy skills and will help to instill a love of reading in these future students.

Reading Rockets Tip Sheets

Looking for a way to build your child's literacy skills at home?  Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org) is a wonderful website that provides reading tip sheets for parents based on the age of their child. 

Here are examples of some reading strategies parents can use for their kindergarteners:

Talk to your child

Ask your child to talk about his day at school. Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.

Say silly tongue twisters

Sing songs, read rhyming books, and say silly tongue twisters. These help kids become sensitive to the sounds in words.

Read it and experience it

Connect what your child reads with what happens in life. If reading a book about
animals, relate it to your last trip to the zoo.

Use your child's name

Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, "John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump. And they both begin with the same letter, J."

Play with puppets

Play language games with puppets. Have the puppet say, "My name is Mark. I like words that rhyme with my name. Does park rhyme with Mark? Does ball rhyme with Mark?"

Trace and say letters

Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.

Write it down

Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage her to use the letters and sounds she's learning about in school.

Play sound games

Practice blending sounds into words. Ask "Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p." Hold each sound longer than normal.

Read it again and again

Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.

Talk about letters and sounds

Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game! "I'm thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm."

Reading tips are available for children from the infant years through the third grade.

                Reading Tips for Parents of Babies

                Reading Tips for Parents of Toddlers

                Reading Tips for Parents of Preschoolers

                Reading Tips for Parents of First Graders

                Reading Tips for Parents of Second Graders

                Reading Tips for Parents of Third Graders