Beyond The Abcs : Nurturing A Love Of Reading

In recent years, parents have heard a lot in thealoud:
media about what is lacking in our school system,"I'm wondering how the little boy is going to figure
and how so many of today's kids can't read.this out."
When I worked with upper grade students as anYou can also prompt children to ask thoughtful
elementary Reading Specialist, the truth wasquestions, by simply saying, "What are you
almost all of my students could technically read.wondering about?" Your child's question might lead
They had learned phonics and appeared to beto a good discussion, or you might simply respond
readers. But what many of them didn't have waswith "Great question. Let's keep reading and
an understanding of what they were reading.maybe we'll find out."
Instead of more phonics instruction, theseVisualizing
students needed to learn how to think.If you have ever laughed out loud when reading
As reading becomes more complex many childrensomething to yourself, it's probably because you
begin to struggle simply because they focus toohad a clear picture in your mind of the funny
much on sounding out words and they don't takeevent you were reading about. Good readers
the time to think about what they are reading.visualize (make pictures or images in their minds)
When this happens, reading becomes somethingwhen they are actively thinking about what they
kids feel they have to do rather than somethingare reading.
they want to do.Visualizing personalizes reading and helps keep
The good news is, parents can teach their childrenreaders engaged in the story. Visualizing requires
how to think, even when they are young, andyoung children to listen closely to the words of
nurture a love of reading at home by movingthe story, because it is the words that help bring
beyond phonics, beyond the basics, beyond thethe pictures to life. As children transition to longer
ABCs.texts there are fewer pictures, or none at all, and
How Parents Can Teach Children to Be Thoughtfulthey must pay attention to the details to create
Readersan interesting image in their mind.
Making ConnectionsParents can encourage children to visualize by
Have you ever been reading and thought, "Thatsaying, "I can really picture that in my mind, can
reminds me of........."? If so, then you were doingyou?" or "Close your eyes and listen while I read.
something that all good readers do! Good readersThen tell me what you see in your mind." It is
make connections before, during and after readingalso helpful if parents use lots of expression and
to enhance their understanding of what they areinteresting character voices when they read aloud.
reading.Doing this helps bring the story to life.
As parents, we need to encourage our children toMaking Predictions
make connections to help them discover howBefore you ever open a book, you probably have
personal the reading experience can be. Personalan idea of what it might be about because of the
connections can help children remember whattitle and picture on the cover. And as you read
they've read and increase the likelihood that theythe book, you probably think about what might
will be more thoughtful readers down the road.happen next. Making predictions is exactly what
But most of all children who make connectionsgood readers do when they are actively involved
when they read are more likely to enjoy thewith a story.
reading experience and develop a lifetime readingA prediction is basically a guess, based on
habit.previous knowledge and the clues given in the
To encourage your child to make connections, trystory. When a reader makes a prediction it
using some of the following phrases when readingmeans they are paying attention to the details in
aloud to your child:the story and thinking beyond the words on the
· "That reminds me of...."page. As they continue to read, good readers will
· "That is just like ....."or prompt them with aconfirm or dismiss old predictions and make new
question like...ones, when appropriate.
· "Do you remember when we did that...."?When reading aloud, parents and teachers can
· "Have you ever felt that way?"encourage children to make predictions by simply
Asking Questionsasking, "What do you think is going to happen
Young children are naturally curious. Theynext?" Parents and teachers should also make
constantly ask us questions as they try to maketheir own predictions when reading with children to
sense out of their world. Good readers (youngdemonstrate what good readers do. Here are
and old) also ask themselves questions before,some helpful words & phrases you can use when
during and after they read as they try to makemaking a prediction.
sense of what they are reading."I bet he's going to...."
Being curious, asking questions and wondering"I think he might....."
about things are the foundation to developing an"He's probably going to ..."
inner desire to read and learn. Our personalAfter making a prediction, try to explain why you
questions make us want to read and learn moremade that guess. This will help children learn that a
so we can figure things out.good prediction isn't a random guess, rather it's an
One way parents can encourage children to thinkeducated guess based on logical thinking.
and ask their own questions when reading is toRemember, reading is much more than sounding
use the phrase, "I'm wondering....." This phraseout words; reading is thinking. When children learn
provides children with a model of what goodhow to think about what they are reading, they
thinking sounds like and, over time, children willare able to be successful learners in school and
eventually use this phrase themselves. Here is anbeyond!
example of what an adult might say during a read