As the snowflakes dance outside and the temperature drops, there's no better time to snuggle up with your little ones and embark on a winter reading adventure. In this blog, we'll explore cozy strategies that not only warm your hearts but also boost your child's literacy skills.Read More
As the leaves start to change color and the air gets a bit crisper, there's no better time to cozy up with a good book than fall! This season offers the perfect opportunity to inspire a lifelong love for reading in your child. Reading is not just a fundamental skill; it's a gateway to imagination,...Read More
Last week, I introduced the topic of background knowledge and how important it is to kids reading and learning success. This week, I will share some engaging strategies parents can try to support kids in expanding their knowledge base. But, I have to warn you…these tips might turn your kids into VORACIOUS knowledge seekers! If...Read More
Let’s face it, the life of a middle schooler is crazy busy between after school activities, homework, screentime and friends. The transition from preteen to teenage years is challenging and it may seem like getting your kids to do their homework is enough to put you over the edge. But, maintaining a reading routine for...Read More
As a reading interventionist at my school, this is a really magical time of year. My kindergarten students have been learning letter sounds all year so far and now, they are starting to put those sounds together to read actual WORDS! This is called blending. Blending is the fundamental skill that helps us read, especially...Read More
The purpose of reading is comprehension. Without comprehension, children gain no meaning from what they read; they are just word-calling. It is no exaggeration to say that comprehending what you read has a profound impact on everyday activities. The earlier that kids develop this fundamental skill, the better off they will be in school, and...Read More
Vocabulary is vital for reading comprehension. If kids do not know what the words mean, they will not be able to make sense of the text they are reading. Beginning readers have to use the words that they hear orally to understand the words they see in print. This larger vocabulary will really pay off...Read More
You may have heard teachers say that children in grades K-2 are “learning to read”, while children in grade 3 and above are “reading to learn”. Although there is some debate as to whether this statement is accurate, when kids enter third grade, there is a definite shift in HOW they read and WHY they...Read More
Have you ever heard of a “wordless picture book”? Wordless picture books are books without words or very few words, but they are a great way to build critical literacy, listening vocabulary, and comprehension skills. They also help increase a child’s awareness of how stories are structured. As the school librarian in my district, I...Read More
As our school’s librarian, I hear book requests from kids ALL THE TIME. The one genre that kids seem to really enjoy is nonfiction. Kids LOVE to read about real people, animals, places, and events. Nonfiction texts present real information in captivating and interesting ways. However, kids spend WAY more time reading fiction books than...Read More