Raising Readers

The amount of free reading done outside of school has consistently been found to improve vocabulary, reading comprehension and verbal fluency. (For a great review of the research literature about the effects of independent reading on school achievement see Independent Reading and School Achievement by Bernice Cullinan from New York University). Students who read independently become better readers, score higher on achievement tests, and have greater content knowledge than those who don’t.

So how can you encourage your child to read?

One way is to read to them yourself. Jim Trelease, author of the best-seller The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes, “Every time we read to a child, we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain. You could even call it a commercial, conditioning the child to associate books and print with pleasure.” Palo Alto elementary schools do an excellent job of embracing this tenant; reading 45 minutes a day was a required part of my first grader’s homework, either independently or by a caregiver. We spent hours reading together and sharing stories, a practice I still do with my 11-year-old.

Another idea is to develop activities centered around particular books or themes. For example, at Litquake at the OFJCC, a literary festival on August 26 at the Oshman Family JCC, teachers will be leading planting activities based on the picture book The Empty Pot by Demi and a puppet show in Hebrew based on the classic Israeli book Dira Le'haskir. Extension activities can deepen the connection to a book and stimulate interest in related ones.

Another take on encouraging kids to read more is encouraging them to write. “Learning to write requires students to dissect the parts of a story, examine each, and then figure out how they all fit together,” according to Naomi Kinsman Downing, founder of the Society of Young Inklings.  “Once kids understand stories this way, they can't help but be stronger readers, comprehend stories more fully, and value stories on a deeper level. I've seen it time and time again.”

Finally, the power of role modeling cannot be overstated. Family reading time, where every member participates, shows that reading is important to Mom and Dad as well. Sharing your own love of books and words can literally last a lifetime.

A fantastic opportunity to celebrate the power of reading is at Litquake at the OFJCC. The free event is filled with literary activities for children and adults including author readings, storytellers, workshops, puppet shows and engaging author panels on everything from Silicon Valley to food. The community-wide event takes place from 3:00-8:00 PM at 3921 Fabian Way in Palo Alto. We hope to see you there!

For more on the original Litquake visit www.litquake.org.