Rekindling reading relationships

Documenting Your Child’s Reading Journey Part 1

Documenting Your Child’s Reading Journey
Part 1

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Articles

I’m convinced that record keeping is in my genetic makeup. Keeping a daily journal, gratitude/spiritual journal, list of notable quotes, list of books I’ve read, etc., is almost compulsive to me. It’s possible I get it from my dad, who wrote a letter to his mother faithfully each week for over 50 years. But I see the value in it and reap the many benefits, too. I strongly encourage you to keep a record of your child’s reading, in whichever format you choose. This week I am excited to share why taking video and/or using a reading app can elevate your child’s reading experiences.

Video

We know that every child is different. Learning to read comes naturally and quickly to some, while others struggle mightily for a long time to get it. In either case, capturing video of his or her reading along the way can be truly valuable. When my preschooler begins to read, I plan on recording her about once a week. Here are some incentives for trying it yourself:

 

  1. It can help motivate readers to improve. Time sometimes gets warped in our heads, especially when we feel like we’re in the spotlight. A video reveals the real-time fluency of our reading and shows whether we are rushing or faltering.
  2. It can show children how far they’ve come. When we’re in the middle of working on reaching a goal, it’s hard to tell how much we’ve progressed. A series of videos makes it much easier to see and appreciate.
  3. Our child’s confidence will increase as we show encouragement and pride while recording them. A confident child will keep coming back to reading, even when it is difficult.
  4. It is a sweet reminder to parents of their child’s efforts and triumphs, which are easy to forget as time sneaks away from us.
  5. If we share these videos with loved ones, they can celebrate with our child in their own, unique way, providing further motivation to make progress.

Below is a video of our daughter reading one of her first books. We found it just the other day and were so grateful to have captured this tender moment. She has come so far since then!

This readaloud is posted with permission from Scholastic Books

Digital App

My six-year-old has embraced reading with a passion. She loves it so much that I decided to open a Goodreads account to keep track of the books she has read. The following are reasons I highly recommend you do this for your child, too:

  1. It has been so rewarding watching her list of titles grow. Each children’s book cover contributes to making a beautiful visual list of her reading accomplishments. (See picture below.)
  2. Goodreads offers you recommendations based on what you have previously read, and allows you to make your own list of titles you want to read in the future.
  1. Asking my daughter how many stars to give each book has also helped me know what types of stories are her favorite and which she didn’t care for as much. 
  2. Being able to search through titles you have already read together keeps you from accidentally requesting the same books again at the library.
  3. The stats make it so easy to determine if we’ve hit a reading slump or are ramping up. This would be helpful in discovering any trends your child may follow.
  4. We typically read two to three picture books per day, but have dipped into longer chapter books, as well. Since I began documenting her reading on Goodreads in February of 2019, we have read a surprising 829 books! I would never have known that had I not signed her up. 
  5. While this may take a few extra minutes of your day, it demonstrates both the love you have for your child and your interest in what they are reading. These actions will speak loudly to your little reader.

Litsy

Libib

Bookly

Bookling

There are many other reading apps for you to choose from. Above are just four for you to evaluate. Some even have reminder alarms, keep track of the time you spent reading, and have achievements you can unlock. I invite you to look them over and choose the best fit for you and your child. Begin documenting your child’s reading journey today. All you need is your cell phone! You will both be surprised and rewarded by this simple, but profound routine. I’d love to hear how you decide to document this journey.

Best of luck to you!

Photo credit: Yunsik Noh on Unsplash

Parent Perspective: Tina

Parent Perspective: Tina

by | Apr 8, 2021 | Parent Perspective

The Joy of Reading

I have always loved to read, but my children were struggling. Crying, fighting and refusing to read and do the assignments . . . for years. So, we stopped and reassessed. We chose something else and took a completely different approach to youth reading. I gave up the “twaddle books” and brought them into the world of literature that I have always loved: classical literature and “Living Books.” (These concepts come from Charlotte Mason).  We’ve read abridged versions of Treasure Island, The Call of the Wild, The Secret Garden and so many more. All with a vast array of individual reactions from my littles. 

These books created emotions and curiosity in my kids. These books created memories as we discussed the trials of our characters, and through that process became stronger in character ourselves. Their rapidly changing expressions and vocal outbursts warmed my heart as they became immersed into the stories we were reading. The discussions they held amongst themselves depicted their reading comprehension without lengthly book reports and pages of questions. 

Once the joy of reading was established, the mechanics of reading became easier. They wanted books about spiders, Volkswagen Bugs and unicorns. They wanted to read about hurricanes and planets. Because of this want, the lessons of R-controlled vowels and sound combinations became easier and more welcomed. They saw the advantage of becoming stronger readers. They saw how reading opened doors into any subject they wanted and how the world was theirs for the taking. They were now invested in themselves and wanted to continue that joy of reading on their own. 

Thanks, Tina

Tina is a force. She gets stuff done, and in the quickest and best possible way. She is a prison nurse, manager of two vacation homes, and mom of 4, from preschool to middle grade. Did I mention she also homeschools her children?! I was honored when she came to me for the one piece of mom advice she wasn’t already familiar with: young boys should only use the upstairs bathroom. Thank you, Tina, for taking the time to share your experience with us!

tawny ember

Sailing With Reading

Sailing With Reading

by | Apr 5, 2021 | Articles

Our home is on a peninsula near Seattle, Washington, so we are surrounded by water. I am blessed to see all kinds of vessels on and around the bay during my drive to town. This got me thinking about how our reading experiences can be similar to boats in their varying conditions. Each of us has our own mighty challenges and personal goals. My intention is NOT for you to compare yourself with others (so resist that urge!), but to take stock of your current circumstances and determine your objectives. 

I am certain our family’s attempts at reading have looked like each one of these boats before. Which one best describes your current efforts? 

Sails and Achor Down
This boat might seem familiar if you are simply going through the motions or feel a little stuck. You might squeeze in some reading time each day, but it’s not that enjoyable for any of you. Maybe you even fudge a bit on the kids’ reading chart for school because it’s so hard to find the time. (No judgment here!) It’s possible that when your little one asks you to read to her, you groan inwardly. THAT’S OKAY! We can reinvigorate your reading time and make it special for each of you. I promise it will be worth it; you’ll see benefits you never imagined.

Parked and Covered

You might relate to this boat if you possess plenty of reading materials that are sitting on the shelf, not getting used. They are collecting dust because your kids are a bit older and have grown out of the desire to read. Or perhaps they haven’t shared in your love of books. You don’t know how or can’t seem to get motivated to help them build an interest in reading. DON’T BE ALARMED. Together we can remind your kids of the fun they’re missing and get them back out on the water!

Going Under!
You might identify with this poor boat if reading in your home is a drudgery. Okay, let’s just get it out in the open: it’s a dumpster fire! Either it’s a daily fight, or in the effort to keep everyone happy, you’re choosing not to force the issue. You wonder if your child will ever read for pleasure. DON’T GIVE UP! You can only improve from here, and I want to help you along your journey. I am so excited to hear about your triumphs along the way!

Smooth Sailing

This is you if reading time feels like a dream! Maybe you’ve hit some rough patches along the way, but your kids are willing and happy to read now. You just want to know how to keep this momentum, especially as they grow older. That is absolutely doable! Our reading sessions will naturally evolve over time, but we should definitely KEEP IT UP. We always want that exhilarating wind filling our sails and whipping through our hair!

The Maverick
Perhaps your boat is a bit worn, but still floating. Your approach to reading time may look unique, but it works well for you and your family. It’s apparent you have put in the work. A boat doesn’t have to look pretty to get you where you want to go. Your valiant efforts will likely lead to your children appreciating the value of reading their entire lives. GREAT SEAFARING! Please join with us in supporting others in their respective boats.

In closing, this is simply a light-hearted invitation to be introspective. Identifying areas that need improvement can help us to find solutions. The current state of your reading time is not as important as what you would like it to become. If you’re comfortable, share which boat you feel your reading most resembles right now or what you’d like it to look like in the near future. 

Ahoy readers!

Parent Perspective: Kelly

Parent Perspective: Kelly

by | Apr 1, 2021 | Parent Perspective

His fingers were white, clenched tightly around the blankets he was pulling higher and higher towards his body, his eyes wide with terror. I was in the middle of what I imagined was a very good basilisk voice impression, when I paused for dramatic effect. I smiled at my son, who was tense with fear, and quickly realized I had gone too far. He wasn’t just frightened by the story, he had watched his mother transform into a sinister character, my play acting was slithering across the room to him through JK Rowling’s captivating descriptions. His safest place, his ultimate comforter had transformed into a monstrous snake. This was no longer fun and exciting, it was panic inducing.

“Please, don’t ever, Ever, EVER,” each ever growing increasingly more emphatic, “talk like that again. Not ever, Mom.” We put the book away, for 6 and a half years, and after holding and hugging my little duckling, I traded in the world of Hogwarts for the familiar words of Frog and Toad, thereby smoothing all his ruffled feathers.

Reading aloud to my children is one of my favorite past times. We haul blankets and pillows into the room and each of my children creates their own little nest from which to listen, to hear and imagine our books. It’s not always pretty. There is squabbling over the best spot, and the right story. They interrupt and rudely shush each other’s questions down, they poke or pinch or push physically and emotionally until someone loses their cool and they all get sent to bed. But in between those mild eruptions, we talk in made up voices, we giggle at descriptions and we enter worlds that are both delightfully familiar and frighteningly foreign.

We started reading together after trips to the library. Picture books turned into chapter books, and eventually to novels. My lap was their home for Guess How Much I Love You and Bread and Jam for Frances. As their interest evolved so did our books. There is a full stack of books we have started but never finished. Schedules changed or interest waned and in time they longed to gather around again, and we couldn’t find our place so we started on a new adventure. We have read classics, and current literature, everything from Anne of Green Gables to The Hobbit, Wonder and Arabian Nights, Narnia and The Princess Bride and the short stories of Patrick F. McManus. They loved them all.

So much of it has nothing to do with the book itself, but from what happens when we read it together. I could tell you all about the neurological effects, the polyvagal theory and how the brain engages in these activities, firing sequences of synapses that allow us to feel safe and secure while venturing into modes of fear, excitement and concern, but the long and short of it is really very simple. We are having a positive shared experience. We are bonding in our disgust for the antagonist, and our hopes for the heroes we have collectively come to love. Reading together strengthens our relationships, unless, of course, I speak like a basilisk.

Thanks, Kelly

Kelly is a special soul who embodies both intelligence and goodness. She also happens to be hilarious! Her 4 equally gifted children span from kindergarten to 8th grade. Not knowing we knew each other, our pediatrician had it in mind to pair up our babies, who were the chubbiest of ALL her patients. I can’t think of anything happier, except maybe hearing Kelly’s basilisk impression. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us!

 

tawnyember

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