Encouraging Your Child to Read - TakePart

Encouraging Your Child toReadncourage her to write her own nametalk about the letters and soundsTalk to your babymonitor your child’s computer and television timeChallenge your childfind kid-friendly magazinesRead and rereadtalk, read, and play togetherPoint out words on signsshow how proud you are

“ Developinga lifelong loveof reading isa foundationfor successin school andhappinessin life.”The love of reading can and should begin forchildren in their earliest days and continuethroughout their years in school and on into theiradult lives. Becoming a strong and confident readeris a necessary skill, no matter what path a child’slife takes. Literacy is as important to a growing childas nutrition, exercise, fresh air, and a loving home.Developing a lifelong love of reading is a foundationfor success in school and happiness in life.The vital importance of literacy is a central underlyingtheme in the film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN.”Daisy, one of the children in the film, wants to bea veterinarian. When asked how she got the idea,Daisy answers, “Because I read books.” That simple,beautiful statement sums up how crucial the abilityto read — and take pleasure in reading — is foreveryone.This pocket guide, created by faculty membersat the Harvard Graduate School of Education, isbrought to you by the producers of WAITING FOR“SUPERMAN” in cooperation with Reach Out andRead, which prepares America’s youngest childrento succeed in school by partnering with doctorsto prescribe books and encourage families to readtogether.We believe this booklet can contribute to majorreform, so that all our children can becomesuperheroes — and super readers.Happy reading!Encouraging Your Child toReadtable of contentsYour baby (birth–18 months)...................................... 2Your toddler (18 months–3 years).............................. 4Your toddler/preschooler (3 years–5 years)................ 6Your early elementary student (grades K–2)............... 8Your upper elementary student (grades 3–5)............ 10Your young teen (grades 6–9).................................. 12Supporting your child’s success.............................. 14Suggested reading.................................................. 161

(birth–18 months)Your BabyWhat to know:• Babies learn language while being held and cared for byadults who repeat words to them; tell them stories; laughand smile with them; and respond to their noises, smiles,and burps.• When you read to your baby, she’s learning. Plus, shebegins to connect reading with what she loves most —being with you!How to help:• Talk to your baby! Repeat nursery rhymes, sing songs, playpeek-a-boo, and respond to her needs with soothing words.• Take advantage of everyday moments to talk about the worldaround you. Tell her stories while she is being changed, inthe bath, in her stroller, or being held. She needs to hear yourvoice and learn about things that she sees.• Read board books with faces, animals, and objects that youcan talk about with your baby, then add lift-the-flap bookswhen reading with your 1-year-old.• When talking to your child, use the language(s) that are mostcomfortable for you, so that she hears lots of different wordsand ideas.2• Uses her voice to express her feelings (laughing, crying)• Imitates speech by saying things like “na-na, da-da”• Understands several simple phrases• At 1 year, can say one or more words• Looks at books3

(18 months–3 years)Your ToddlerWhat to know:• Children become “readers” before they learn to read. Enjoyingbooks together now will help them enjoy books later.• When children have lots of opportunities to talk and listen,they are building important language skills.How to help:• Listen to your child talk and encourage her to say more. Askher questions, show interest in what she says, and help herlearn new words and ideas.• When you are with your child, limit distractions like phonecalls and television. Instead, talk, read, and play together.Consider borrowing books from the library.• Make books a part of the daily routine. Special reading timemight be before bed, during a meal, or while you are ridingthe bus.• Give your child paper and crayons so she can “write.” Askher to explain what is happening in her picture or story. Helpher think of more ideas to add.4• At 2 years, can say 250–350 words• At 3 years, can say 800–1000 words• Says common rhymes, imitates the tone and sounds of adultsspeaking, and asks to be read to• Enjoys listening to predictable, familiar books and joins inwhen it is time to say a repeated phrase in the story5

6Your Toddler/Preschooler(3 years–5 years)• Comfortably uses sentences, plays with words, and learnsfrom conversations and books that are read aloud• Recognizes familiar letters and words such as her name —and attempts to write them• Identifies words that rhyme or have the samebeginning soundWhat to know:• Learning lots of words from birth helps to make preschoolersreaders for life.• Children become “writers” before they learn to write. Children’sscribbles, pictures, and attempts at writing alphabetletters are all important beginnings to strong literacy skills.How to help:• When reading together, encourage your child to talk. Haveher “pretend read” the parts she has memorized. Ask herquestions and encourage her to say more. Eventually, shemight tell more of the story than you do!• Point out words on signs and talk about the letters andsounds. Ask your child to find letters she knows on menusor street signs.• Link the books you read to people, places, and things yourchild knows or sees when you’re out.• Play with words and sounds by singing, reading, and makingup rhymes together. Call attention to words that have similarsounds (“Dad and dance both start with the same sound,d-d-d-d dad, d-d-d-d dance!”)• Have your child tell you stories, and write down what shesays. Ask questions that will help her complete the story.Then, read the story you wrote together.• Holds a book right-side-up, turns the pages, andunderstands that pages are read from left to right andfrom top to bottom 7

Your Upper Elementary Student(grades 3–5)10• At 8 years, reads chapter books and is now learning anestimated 3,000 words per year• At 9 years, can read aloud and silently, and understandwhat is read• At 10 years, begins to identify the themes in a textWhat to know:• The words we use in conversation are different from thewords we see in books. Students need to understand thisacademic language in order to succeed in school.• Starting in grade 4, children are expected to “read tolearn” — to gain information from books independently.• Children need encouragement, praise, and patience,especially when they are struggling in school.How to help:• Hang maps or other word-filled posters. Hang her schoolworkto show how proud you are and emphasize theimportance of working hard at school.• Challenge your child by reading aloud books or stories fromthe newspaper — electronic or print — that she cannot readon her own and by introducing her to new ideas and topics.• Keep what your child enjoys reading around the house.Many children enjoy kid-friendly magazines that you canfind at your library or order by mail.• Talk to your child’s teacher. Learn about classroom work andhow you can help at home.11

(grades 6–9)Your Young Teen12• Chooses things to read that she wants to talk and write about• Understands how authors think• Can compare points of view and ideas from different bookson the same topic• Learns new information while reading, to develop her ideasand knowledgeWhat to know:• Many children lose interest in reading during middle school.Finding reading material every day that captures their interestcan help them continue to build knowledge and skills.• Vocabulary growth is critical throughout middle school toprepare for understanding high school textbooks.• Many children need extra support as reading requirementsincrease during these years.How to help:• Talk with your child about what is in the news, or what ishappening at your workplace or at her school. Like manyteens, she values privacy, but appreciates knowing thatyou are there for her.• Put word games, trivia challenges, or light reading materialsaround the home where she will see them and hopefullypick them up to read.• Encourage good study habits, like setting goals, completingassignments on time, and asking for help from a teacherwhen needed. Establish a space at home for homework.• Get your child involved in activities she enjoys such assports, volunteering, music, or book clubs. These activitieshelp her explore interests and keep her connected to school.• If your older teen has trouble with comprehension, readit yourself and discuss it with her, then encourage her totry again.• Can experience success when reading about subjects thatare familiar and interesting to her, even when she struggleswith school reading 13

Supporting Your Child’sSUCCESS• Visit the library and borrow books for yourselfas well as for your child. Talk to your child aboutwhat you are reading. It is key to show your childthat you enjoy reading and think that learningis important.• Scatter books, magazines, newspapers, andcomics in everyday places — the car, her bedroom,or the breakfast table.• View websites together with your child, sharee-books, even listen to audiobooks. This allcounts as reading — every little bit helps!• Listen and talk to your child. She is never too young orold to learn from conversation. Talk about things thatinterest her and encourage her to ask questions.• Have conversations with teens about current events andhappenings in your community.• Stay involved throughout yourchild’s years in school. Attendparent-teacher conferences andchaperone field trips. Or arrangeanother time when you can meetwith teachers or talk by phone.Show your child that her educationis important to you.• Remember, reading is social.Talking about what kids andadults are reading is part ofacademic success!“Talk to your childabout what youare reading. It iskey to show yourchild that you enjoyreading and thinkthat learningis important. ” 1514

SuggestedreadingYour BabyGoodnight MoonBy Margaret Wise BrownMy AnimalsBy Xavier DeneuxPat the BunnyBy Dorothy KunhardtClap HandsBy Helen OxenburyThe Peace BookBy Todd ParrYour ToddlerMoo Baa La La LaBy Sandra BoyntonThe Very Hungry CaterpillarBy Eric CarleThe Snowy DayBy Ezra Jack KeatsIs Your Mama a Llama?By Deborah Guarino, illustrated bySteven KelloggShades of PeopleBy Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly,photos by Shelley RotnerYour Early Elementary StudentMy Name is / Mellamo GabrielaBy Monica Brown,illustrated by John ParraThe Girl Who LovedWild HorsesBy Paul GobleWhere the MountainMeets the MoonBy Grace LinNumber the StarsBy Lois LowryBridge to TerabithiaBy Katherine Paterson,illustrated by Donna DiamondThe Day of Ahmed’s SecretBy Florence Parry Heideand Judith Heide Gilliland,illustrated by Ted LewinFrog and Toad seriesBy Arnold LobelMartha SpeaksBy Susan MeddaughYour Upper Elementary StudentLittle House seriesBy Laura Ingalls WilderFreedom SummerBy Deborah Wiles, illustratedby Jerome LagarrigueYour Toddler/PreschoolerCorduroyBy Don FreemanHarold and the Purple CrayonBy Crockett Johnson16If You Give a Mouse a CookieBy Laura Joffe Numeroff,illustrated by Felicia BondThe Lion & the MouseBy Jerry PinkneyWhere the Wild Things AreBy Maurice SendakYour Young TeenThe Hunger Games seriesBy Suzanne CollinsThe Ear, the Eye, and theArm: A NovelBy Nancy FarmerThe OutsidersBy S.E. HintonHolesBy Louis SacharWhen You Reach MeBy Rebecca Stead17

Encouraging Your Child to Readwas conceived by Harvard GraduateSchool of Education facultymembers Joe Blatt, Nonie Lesaux,and Catherine Snow and writtenby Nonie Lesaux with help fromresearch assistants Joan Kelley,Michelle Hastings, and Julie Russ.Spanish translation by ArmidaLizarraga, with the assistance ofEmma Billard, Paola Uccelli, andAndres Galindo.To accompany WAITING FOR“SUPERMAN,” the producersParamount Pictures, ParticipantMedia, and Walden Media areconducting a nationwide socialaction campaign dedicated, in part,to promoting children’s literacy.Working in collaboration withour literacy partners First Book ® ,Reach Out and Read, City Year,and Jumpstart, we seek to ensurethat all parents understand theimportance of reading and haveaccess to age-appropriate books fortheir families. To learn more, pleasevisit www.waitingforsuperman.com/action.Production Manager/Editor:Marin JorgensenAll photos provided by:Reach Out and Read, Inc. and First BookDesign: www.acecreative.bizThis pocket guide is distrib utedin partnership with Reach Outand Read, the national non profit,school readiness organization.Tools for Parents: For readingtips and “doctor-recommended”children’s books, visitwww.reachoutandread.org/parents.First Book, a nonprofit organizationthat provides new booksto children in need, addressesone of the most importantfactors affecting literacy —access to books. Learn moreat www.firstbook.org.City Year unites young peopleof all backgrounds for a year offull-time service, giving them theskills and opportunities to changethe world. These diverse youngleaders help turn around high needschools and get students back ontrack to graduation. Learn more atwww.cityyear.org.Jumpstart recruits and trainscaring adults to work with preschoolchildren in low-incomeneighborhoods, helping them todevelop the language and literacyskills they need to succeed inschool and in life. Learn more atwww.jstart.org.The distribution in English and inSpanish of Encouraging Your Childto Read is made possible by agenerous grant from The AnschutzFoundation.