Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13 is NATIONAL YOUNG READERS WEEK.
As educators, we understand the importance of being able to read, but it’s equally important that children ENJOY reading. Teachers need to be sales people and SELL their students on reading.
I remember visiting a kindergarten classroom one day and the children eagerly came up to me with books that they wanted to read to me. I looked at the teacher and said, “I am so impressed! Your students are wonderful readers!” The teacher smiled and said so all could hear, “My children have discovered how much fun it is to read and they just want to read all the time!!!” That’s what you call good brainwashing!!!
Another teacher said that when a child first opened a book and had that “Ah-ha” moment of “I CAN READ!” she would shut the door, climb up on the table, and do the happy reading dance. “Josie can read! Josie can read!”
Unfortunately, testing and standards have overshadowed some of the JOY of reading. But, you can do something about it this week!
*Invite your students to discuss WHY it is important to read. Emphasize that learning to read really does make you smarter and happier.
*Discuss why you LIKE to read. Let children complete this sentence: I like to read because…
*Have children ask their parents how reading helps them do their job.
Let children interview family members, friends, and school helpers about reading. They might want to ask the following:
*Why do you like to read?
*When do you like to read?
*Where do you like to read?
*What do you like to read?
Compare results.
Persuasive Posters
Divide children into small groups and challenge them to make posters to encourage others to read. Hang these around the school.
DEAR (Drop Everything And Read)
This is a perfect day to yell “DEAR” and let children read what they want and where they want in the classroom.
This is a perfect day to yell “DEAR” and let children read what they want and where they want in the classroom.
Step Into a Book
Children can take off their shoe and trace around their foot on construction paper. After cutting it out they can decorate it and use it as a bookmark.
*Let children do rubbings of the bottoms of their shoes and use these for bookmarks.
Envelope Bookmark
Cut off the corner of an envelope as shown. Children can decorate it and then use it on the corner of a book to save their spot.
Cut off the corner of an envelope as shown. Children can decorate it and then use it on the corner of a book to save their spot.
*Hint! Let them mark their favorite picture or page they’d like to read to classmates.
*Mark a vocabulary word or other detail in the book.
