Tips for reading aloud to your children

Children are never too young (or old for that matter) to be read to. Reading aloud to your children helps them to develop the language and literacy skills that they will use throughout life. Reading aloud is more than just reading the book. Make it an experience! Here are some tips to help you 'jazz up' your reading time-

• Read with expression. Don't be afraid to sound silly, it's for the kids after all!
• Talk with your child about the book. Point out the illustrations, talk about what the character looks like, etc. You don't have to do it on EVERY page, but share some of the things you see and think when reading the story.
• Young children are learning the difference between the text and the illustrations. Run your finger under the words as you read them. (This will also help them learn to track the print from left to right...an important pre-reading skill!)
• Take your time. Your little one may have a lot of questions, or a lot to say about the book. Remember that it is more about the reading experience than just sticking to the words on the page.
• For older children, act out the book. Ask them to be a part of the reading by guessing what is next, describing the illustrations, reading part of the text, or finding words in the story. Make it a conversation.
• Read a variety of books. Mix it up by reading old favorites and new ones. You can really read anything, because language is all around us. Some 'unconventional' ideas: magazines, menus, cereal boxes, catalogs, newspapers. Help your child realize that print is everywhere!
• Be flexible. Children need time to get used to and appreciate reading aloud together, especially if it is a new routine. If they don't like the book you are reading, or aren't attending to it, switch it up and try a new one.
• Don't force them to sit and listen. Make reading a positive experience. Try it again at another time, try another book, or another day. Maybe your child would prefer to sit on the floor and read together, or would rather be cuddled with you in a chair. Give them ownership of the experience by asking their opinion. This way it is really something you do together.

Spark a love of books by reading aloud to your children. Making time to read together will give you memories that can truly be treasured for years to come.

Making time to read

It's something we all want more of, in fact it's something we can't get enough of- time. There are so many things packed into each day, how can we possibly get them all done?
My challenge to you is to MAKE time to read with your child(ren). Make it a priority. Make sure it happens. Notice I didn't say 'find' time to read. The time is there-it's not that you have to find it...all of us often get caught up in what is going on around us and fill that time with other things. (Trust me, the lover of reading books with my daughter that I am- I still loose track of time and miss out on those opportunities!)
MAKING time is different- it is a choice. When you make time to read you have chosen to make it a priority for your family.
The NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) encourages families to read every day together at a designated time. They have found that taking time to read together shows your child that reading is worthwhile; that it's important.
Making time to read may mean different things for different families. Maybe this means right before bed, or before nap, right after dinner, or even during bath time-but in some way build a time for reading into your child's daily routine.
I know you're picturing "the perfect family" huddled around a book and laughing and smiling and having a grand old time- and you're thinking- yeah, right...there's no way I can get my kids to do that! Well, it may not go that way, and that's okay. Just try it out. Spend some time one-on-one with them. Try reading a new book. But, don't look at it as work, or just one more thing to do. In the end it doesn't matter so much what you read with them, but that you are reading with them.
So, make some time in your day to read with your family. No matter what their ages, your children will benefit from it. And, you may even benefit from it too!

Let me know how it goes. Make reading a priority in your family. Start by making time each day to read.

What is with the title?

So, I'm not THE reading teacher mommy (I don't know how you win that title, but if it involves naming children's books by simply looking at their cover...I could possibly win!)- but everything about me is a reading teacher/mommy. It really is what I am at the core of my being. I am the one in the 'kid conversation' (where us parents talk all about how our little ones are crawling, teething, talking) that will continue to delight in the fact that my child picked up a book and 'read' it today. I am the mom that will suggest to you new titles to read with your little one...whether you ask or not. I just can't help it! I love to read, love to read with kids, and want you to do the same!
The title of this blog suggests some of the roles I have in life. I am a teacher. I am a reading teacher. I am a mom. One cannot exist without the other- it's just who I am! And, I designate reading teacher as being something different than a teacher. Don't get me wrong- all teachers teach reading, that is the truth. However, not all teachers have a serious and infectious passion for reading that they want to pass on to their students (I kind of made it sound like a disease, didn't I?). Yes, that makes me (and other teachers like me) a little crazy- but trust me, the kids get it (even if adults don't sometimes). :)
Along with being a teacher/reading teacher/mom, I am also a student. I am currently finishing up my Master's Degree at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. I have a strong interest in family literacy and children's motivation towards reading. In my research I hope to inspire families to read together and see reading for what it is: an experience.

So, I created this blog to record my journey through life as I take on these 3 different roles, and I'm sure, others to come...