It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Read
Supporting a new reader is one of life’s greatest opportunities for personal or professional success. Before you know it, new readers will be finding their own books and joyfully reading them.
What to Do With Kids Who Can Read, But Don’t
Getting children who can read, but don’t, to become children who can read and do is challenging, but not impossible.
Help New Readers Enjoy Good Books
The key to growing avid readers is to provide new readers with ready access to abundant, relevant, potentially enjoyable books, and then offering encouragement, conversation about the book, and guidance about next steps.
Self-Selected Reading is Its Own Reward
Literacy instruction changes have been cued by National Assessment for Educational Progress test results, however, that doesn’t seem to have improved subsequent test scores or enhanced children's engagements with books. Perhaps we can apply what we know about the habits of avid and capable readers to grow avid readers.
Not Just Letters
Teaching children to read and write with purposeful connection requires that they come to appreciate the fundamental concept of communication: that reading and writing are all about making and sharing meanings.
Children Are Tough Customers
Young children like what they like and while being curious about new things, unless they sense some immediate value, they will pretty much ignore our suggestions with hardly a casual wave of the hand. They have no qualms about sharing their disapproval with us. Tough sale!
Are You a Wild Reader?
Wild Readers always have a book going—or maybe several. “Wildies” will read anything when a chance is presented. Our education system should encourage every child to be a wild reader by allowing them to choose reading material that interests them.
Over and Over and OVER Again
Abundant research studies exist about the fabulous benefits of repeatedly and expressively reading any well-chosen book to children.
Kids Can’t Fly with Training Wheels
Phonetically regular books with titles like “Nat the Fat Cat” and “Al and Sally are Pals” are the equivalent of training wheels for reading. And literacy training wheels, like bicycle training wheels, are a hindrance, not a help, when kids are learning to read or ride.
Can Struggling Readers Be Avid Readers?
If we—teachers and parents—ease off on our eagerness to have children keep up with their peers on the road to reading and allow them to progress at their own speeds, they will be well on their way to becoming avid, lifelong readers.
Three’s Good Company When Reading
Two perspectives are fertile ground for the shared exploration of books and the powers of literacy. More perspectives expand the possibilities for inquiry and exploration in thrilling new ways.
Size Matters and TED Knows It
Book length matters to the uninitiated reader who counts pages as if calculating how long they can stay under water, and “short” books might be just the right length for ALL readers.
Robots or Readers?
Have you ever had a computer or phone read something to you from the screen? This is a trick question. Think about your answer.
Stop Worrying About Grade-Level Reading Growth
The concerns about making sure that all children progress at the same pace in their reading test score growth have always been misplaced, misguided, and deeply rooted in U.S. schooling practices. We must join hands to eliminate standard book assignment practices and help kids find books they want to read and enjoy.
Go With the Flow of Meaningful Conversation
The goal of conversation about a book is not to arrive at a predetermined conclusion about a fully known idea or issue. It’s about partnering together to sharpen a shared or possibly new understanding about something, addressing a concern or confusion.
The Birth and Life of an Avid Reader
Avid readers have adopted a delightful path forward in their lives that leads to lifelong growth in their understanding about and the love of books.
Kids Who Read Will Write
Young children who are read to regularly, who receive sweet birthday cards and other notes in the mail, or who observe their parents as they receive important written communications, easily come to understand that print, along with art and other modes of self-expression, provide the potential for reaching out to “touch” others.
Add More Lap Time to Your Days
Literacy starts with little ones sitting in the laps of trusted loved ones, reading and discussing books that children love.
Expression Over Accuracy: Supporting the Development of Joyful Readers
For those who care about lifelong reading and learning, reading speed and accuracy are low priorities. When teaching children to become eager daily readers, kids benefit from learning to express emotion when reading to themselves or others.
Children’s Questions Lead to Lifelong Learning
Exploring the possibilities for obtaining answers to their own questions about the world helps children form a foundation for enriched lifelong learning.