When you enter the home of readers something very powerful happens-the people are reading, writing, and communicating. In a home where people read, anything, the place transforms from a house to a home. A home that is quiet, relaxed, peaceful, controlled (at times) organized, and full of wonderful thoughts and ideas. In this home where people read, the adults are modeling reading habits that the children acquire and take with them through life.
As a literacy teacher I am often asked to tutor and I rarely take the offer. I only attempted a time or two. I meet teachers who tell me how much they supplement their income with tutoring and I just listen. I am not totally sold on tutoring, even though I get off of work mid day I really don't think I have the time to sit next to a struggling reader and help them every time they slip! So tutoring would be too time consuming, considering I have 3 children of my own. I would have to be there quite often and we all know (I hope) that I cant just show up with some magical worksheet that will solve all the problems. I'm not sure if, I am not always there, that I can teach a child to read and end all frustration. So my advice to parents of young readers is to get books, create a space for your books, schedule time to read your books, and allow time to talk about your books.
So, what do I think will help end some frustration when learning how to read? Well for very young children start early. Turn your house into a home full of books, and opportunities to write, view media, and hold conversations. Don't miss the opportunity for greatness. Create a home library that is accessible to the children. Continue to grow your understanding on the importance of reading. A little tutoring will help here and there, but I really think that parents need to take the responsibility to create their own home library. They could visit the library often, or commit to buying a new book or two every time they buy their kid a new outfit. Good readers are most often amazing communicators. You can take your child from being good to great that easy!
The photo is my home library. When I moved into my apartment I didn't have a TV but we had plenty of books-I started buying these books on my oldest daughter's first Christmas. I turned our pantry into our home library. Although our library is not PINTEREST quality, it is organized, neat, accessible to the children, and has books for the whole family. This is where my house (tiny teacher budget apartment) was turned into a home.
As a literacy teacher I am often asked to tutor and I rarely take the offer. I only attempted a time or two. I meet teachers who tell me how much they supplement their income with tutoring and I just listen. I am not totally sold on tutoring, even though I get off of work mid day I really don't think I have the time to sit next to a struggling reader and help them every time they slip! So tutoring would be too time consuming, considering I have 3 children of my own. I would have to be there quite often and we all know (I hope) that I cant just show up with some magical worksheet that will solve all the problems. I'm not sure if, I am not always there, that I can teach a child to read and end all frustration. So my advice to parents of young readers is to get books, create a space for your books, schedule time to read your books, and allow time to talk about your books.
So, what do I think will help end some frustration when learning how to read? Well for very young children start early. Turn your house into a home full of books, and opportunities to write, view media, and hold conversations. Don't miss the opportunity for greatness. Create a home library that is accessible to the children. Continue to grow your understanding on the importance of reading. A little tutoring will help here and there, but I really think that parents need to take the responsibility to create their own home library. They could visit the library often, or commit to buying a new book or two every time they buy their kid a new outfit. Good readers are most often amazing communicators. You can take your child from being good to great that easy!
The photo is my home library. When I moved into my apartment I didn't have a TV but we had plenty of books-I started buying these books on my oldest daughter's first Christmas. I turned our pantry into our home library. Although our library is not PINTEREST quality, it is organized, neat, accessible to the children, and has books for the whole family. This is where my house (tiny teacher budget apartment) was turned into a home.