I love lists…here is one to help you get the most out of reading aloud to your children! Enjoy your time together!

#1 – Remember, the art of listening is acquired.

#2 – The first time you read a book, discuss the cover illustration.

#3 – Read slowly enough for the child to build mental pictures.

#4 – Use plenty of expression, change your tone of voice, and adjust your pace to fit the story.

#5 – Encourage involvement; invite the child to turn the pages for you.

#6 – Ask “What do you think is going to happen next?”

#7 – During repeat readings of a predictable book, stop at key phrases and allow the child to provide the words.

#8 – If you can’t finish a chapter, find a suspenseful spot at which to stop.

#9 – Paper, crayons, and pencils allow active children to keep their hands busy while listening.

#10 – Reading aloud comes naturally to very few people. To do it with ease takes practice – and it’s worth it!

Did you read today??

Photo credit: karindalziel

What a great opportunity to celebrate reading…by doing it as a family!

What books have you read lately as a family? One of my youngest daughter’s favourite books is Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards. We read it together…and it was exciting to see that she liked it so much she read it again on her own!

Here is how ABC Canada defines Family Literacy:

Literacy is more than books. There are many ways to strengthen your literacy skills – all it takes is practicing for 15 minutes every day. Reading, writing, playing a game, following a recipe or even singing a song all help prepare children for challenges ahead and sharpen skills for adults. More ideas here: Family Literacy Ideas

Share your favourite books or activites with us…any new discoveries? old time favourites?…and of course  share them with your family today…celebrate together, snuggling on the big comfy couch!

I learned something new this weekend about our brains…they do not automatically get dull as we age! Great news!

“Research is now showing that the circuits of the normal brain grow with mental activity. Lack of use, not aging, is what causes the brain to  become less sharp. Like any muscle, if used, the brain is strengthened. When normal brains were compared, it was found that not much difference can be found between the brain of a 25 year old and a 75 year old.”  (Chandler, Steve. 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself)

How does this relate to our children and learning? I think it shows that keeping our brains active, at any age, will only improve how they work! Do your children have trouble with tests? Maybe work on getting their brains in shape by working on their memory skills! A quick google search on “memory games” shows lots of options, for all ages. Sure can’t hurt to try…and it sounds fun!

Photo credit: dierk schaefer

Do you read biographies?? I love to learn about other people. I wonder sometimes if it is because I am nosey…but I will say that I do learn a lot of lessons through other’s lives that I know I don’t want to learn myself!

Eric Liddell

One biography that really struck me was reading about the life of Eric Liddell. Sometimes there are things that just resonate with your own life and this certainly happened in Eric’s life. I really knew nothing about him other than he was a runner…and that is not something we had in common, for sure. But the more I read about this man, the more I liked him! He grew up as a missionary kid and I wept (along with his parents) as he was left behind to attend school in Britain as his parents went to China. I cheered (along with his parents) as he ran his races and won. I was intrigued by the fact that he was Scottish and went on a speaking tour along the coast about the time my Grandfather would have lived in Aberdeen (had he heard him speak??). And I will readily admit weeping as I read of his death in China (although I should have seen that coming since most biographies end that way). I quite enjoyed learning about Eric, a man who never wavered from what he believed, and I enjoyed sharing his legacy with my children as we read the book together. (More info on Eric here.)

Other biographies? I have enjoyed the Usborne Famous Lives series. I like how they are simple, to the point, without missing the point of who these famous people were. For example, I quite enjoy sharing about William Shakespeare or Alexander the Great with my children and all in one sitting! An easy, relatable way to share history lessons!

What Biographies have you enjoyed?? I am always looking to add to my bookshelf!

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been thinking about gift giving. Do you give books as gifts? I try to!

I heart books...

To me, books are the kind of gift that just keep on giving…unlike things with batteries! I also like that a child must engage their imagination to bring the pages to life in their mind…that is one of the parts I enjoy most about books when I read fiction…what do the characters look like, what kind of house do they live in?? To me, it is way more fun than giving a DVD…all the thinking was done by someone else!!

What are some of your favourite books to give as gifts?? Last year, I gave my kids each a magazine in their stocking…something fluffy to read for the girls…and a drum magazine for my son. This year my son requested a magazine subscription (oh…and the complete collection of Calvin and Hobbs!!). I am still thinking what to get the girls…lots of options for them!

What books have you given in the past…or what books are on the list this year? Love to get some new ideas!

I read this list a few years back…it made me smile…books really are the simplest way to go!

~ Books don’t need to be assembled before being given.
~ Books don’t need batteries.
~ Books never come in the wrong colour or size.
~ Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
~ Books don’t need spare parts.
~ Books are easier to gift wrap than footballs.
~ Books don’t bite, scratch or kick.
~ Books don’t need watering or fertilizing.
~ Books don’t irritate your allergies.
~ Books don’t go out of style.
~ Books look good with any decor.
~ Books don’t get aphids or draw ants.
~ Books don’t bark or need to be walked in the middle of the night.
~ Books don’t shrink, stretch or fade.
~ Books don’t need extension cords.
~ Books won’t scratch the coffee table.
~ Books don’t get stale before they arrive.
~ Books never need ironing.
~ Books don’t have zippers that break.
~ When you are finished with a book, it is not empty.

Looking forward to hearing  your book suggestions…and have a wonderful time searching for the perfect books to give to your loved ones this year!!

Photo Credits: darwinbell (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

Practice family literacy in your home and community. Here are some great tips to start you on the road to reading:

Find a local Literacy cause...this one is mine!

Ask your child questions about the story you’re reading to ensure comprehension.

Book family time to read with your children every day.

Create a special reading place in your home, with your child’s favourite books within reach.

Donate funds to the literacy cause! For information on programs in your community, look under LEARN in the Yellow Pages.

Encourage children to read words on TV, street signs, mugs and t-shirts.

Find new stories to read with your children every week. Vary their length and subject matter.

Give your time to read aloud to a child.

Have a child read a book to you.

International Literacy Day is held on September 8 every year. Celebrate the day by picking up a book and reading to a child.

January 27 is Family Literacy Day! Visit www.abc-canada.org for a complete listing of Family Literacy Day events across Canada.

Keep teens reading. Give them books, newspaper articles and magazines about things that interest them – music, movies, TV and computers.

Let your child purchase a new book for his birthday!

Make every day a learning day. Ask your children to make a shopping list, read recipes together or help them make a calendar of their weekly activities.

Newborns benefit from reading too!

Organize a children’s book club with friends in your neighbourhood.

Purchase books to have in your home for your children to read over and over again.

Quiet, cozy reading spaces are good places for your child to read independently.

Remember that children learn by example – if you recognize the importance of reading, your children will too!

Set aside one day a week to make a regular visit to the library.

Treat a child to a story a day.

Usborne Books provide a great opportunity for your child to improve reading skills while learning lots of information.

Volunteer your time. Family literacy groups in your community could use your help with tutoring adults, reading to children and helping out with administrative tasks.

Write a letter.

X-ercise your mind! Reading ability is like a muscle, if you don’t exercise it often, you will not maintain the same level of reading ability as you get older. So – “use it or lose it!”

You are the key to improving a child’s reading ability by placing a high priority on reading in your home.

Zap off the TV – pick up a book instead!

~ Source Unknown

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

We are thankful for what men and women have done to preserve our freedom…never forget!

Check out this site for more background on this poem and its author.

Photo Credits: petercastleton (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

Reading is important…but I think you know that since you are reading a blog about it <grin>!!

But do you read TO your children, even when they are older?? We do in our house! Why?? Because it is a great thing to do together! But where do you begin? Here are my thoughts…

Enjoying reading together!

When you have really little ones, don’t wait until they are bigger…start right away!  There are amazing books out there for really little ones…fun board books that are meant to be loved and enjoyed! They have a few words to give the child the wonderful sound of the parent’s voice…but they can also have bright colours, touchy feely spots…something for all five sense! It is so amazing to watch little ones as they take in the books…it is just the beginning of their journey to reading!

For preschoolers, there are SO MANY excellent books out there for a parent to read to your child…but this is where you  may find the attention span can be all over the place…that is okay…they are just getting the hang of listening and it could take a bit of practice. Usborne has a great series that helps them step into reading slowly, with a few little tricks. The series is called “Farmyard Tales” and has some neat features. The first is that each story (there are 20 of them, all taking place in and around Apple Tree Farm) begins the same…”This is Mrs. Boot the Farmer. She has two children called Poppy and Sam and a dog called Rusty” (typed from my memory <grin>)….and so they can pretty much join in and help mom and dad get the story going! And you will find that the main characters are going to show up over and over again…kids love that! And one more thing that is fun…there is a little yellow duck to find on every page…just the thing to help your child have something to do while listening to you read! This was the highlight for my kids, for sure!

What about reading to school age children? Do you stop when they can read themselves? No! We continue to read aloud here and our girls are in Grade 4, 9 and 12! It is a fun family thing to do…but it is also helping to build their listening skills, something definitely needed in life. And reading books above your child’s reading level (but something they have an interest in) can only help improve their vocabulary and interest in the subject. Another advantage to reading aloud rather than reading silently? As a parent, you can stop and discuss things along the way that you would not have had the opportunity to do if your child were in his room reading by himself. We have had some excellent conversations which began by reading a chapter in a book.

And don’t be afraid to switch it up sometimes…maybe read a magazine article or poetry (rhyming ones are good for little ones) or different Advent type books before Christmas, etc…what are some of YOUR favourite books to read as a family? Enjoy them this week!

Photo Credits: edenpictures (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

This is a great article by Daniel Belcher…

For many, reading has many benefits that continue to enhance their lives. Their lives are bettered in some the following ways: mentally, spiritually and sociality. Also, if we develop a habit reading will we become more confident and self assured in abilities to comprehend and understand all types of information. Let’s further examine some of the benefits of reading.

One of the other main benefits of reading is that it exercises your mind. Your mind begins to bend and flex mentally, It stays lose and limber so to you can flow easier through the course of the day. The regular routine ensures that the reading muscle stays in good shape as well as the mind. Just like physical exercise, there has to be a determination to make reading part of your life. If you understand the many benefits of reading, you will have no trouble adopting a regular habit of reading.

Reading has other benefits to the regular reader which is the ability to focus. When the mind is trained and channeled, it begins to pay attention more thoroughly. For example, when you are faced with some of life’s difficult and challenging assignments, you will have the ability to stay calm and objectively look at the problem, circumstances or required task. If you continue to read, you continue to stay focused; bottom line.

There is perhaps no greater avenue to learning then through reading. All people, great and small, have learned more things by reading then practically anywhere other way. When we continue to read, we have the ability to expand our minds tremendously. We review the pages of knowledge left by those who came before us. We than begin to add to the knowledge as the cycle of humanity continue. The regular routine reading has positively chanced the course many peoples’ lives.

Finally, when we develop a practice a habit of reading, we are building solid foundation on which to build. This foundation of reading will allow us to accomplish many goals and ambitions we have for our lives. Our habit of continuing to read helps to ensure we will continue to succeed. Reading has a long and distinguish track record for establishing positive and lasting benefits to humanity.

I retired from United States Navy in 2003, after serving over 21 years of enlisted active duty onboard several different ships and a few shore assignments. I am married. My wife and I have two daughters. We have two dogs, Chow Chow’s, to be exact. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts (Focus area Psychology) from Excelsior College class 2004.

What are you doing to make reading an integral part of your life (and the life of your children?)?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Belcher

Photo Credits: moriza (Creative Commons license on Flickr)

What are learning styles…and why does it matter? A child’s learning style is how he processes information the easiest…and this can be VERY helpful as you help him try to retain the information he is learning at school or home. I heard a speaker talk about learning styles and she used a very simple illustration to give parents a hint as to which learning style is most predominant in your child. This is not overly scientific, but it does give a little insight as to which approach might help your child as they learn and read.

The speaker encouraged us to observe our child as we asked them simple questions, about anything as the questions and answers were not really important, but HOW they answered was. They are likely to do one of three things (at least most of the time) when they ponder their answers…

1. Your child may look “up” as if to search for the answer somewhere in outer space…this is an indication that your child may be a visual learner. It is almost as if they search around to “see” the answer! This child is all about what they can see when learning, so a very colourful, detailed book would be wonderful for them as they tend to think in pictures. Any kind of chart, diagram, photograph etc. will help them absorb the information better. They also tend to sit at the front of a classroom so they can take in everything the teacher has to say…including their visual expressions and body language.

2. Your child may look “sideways” as if to look for the answer in their ears…this would be an indication that your child may be an auditory learner. It is almost as if they are looking to find the answer in their ears as this is how they seem to learn the best…by hearing! The information comes to life via listening to the tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. This type of child would do well listening to parents read a book aloud or with books on CD.

A lot can be built while listening to a story...even a pyramid!

3. Your child may look “down” at their hands as if looking for the answer there…this would be an indication that your child may be a kinesthetic (tactile) learner that seems to learn best by doing! This type of child needs to be moving while learning…so maybe learning to count by jumping on the stairs or playing with lego while listening to mom read so they can sit still a bit longer. They really need to be able to explore the world around them and need a very hands-on approach to learning.

It is so interesting to watch our kids and see where their strengths are…and then teach to those strengths. This exercise can give you some clues as to what is in your child’s head…and maybe even in your own too! Give it a try…I would love to hear about your experiences!