Back to School

Many parents are sending their children back to school this week. And undoubtedly many kids will come home with leveled books to read as part of their homework each evening. This is wonderful because practice is so important.

BUT, that does NOT mean parents should stop reading to their kids. In fact, Jim Trelease reports on studies that have found a child's enjoyment in reading goes down at the same time the are no longer read to. Until fourth grade, kids listening comprehension is much higher than their reading comprehension. So, kids can enjoy listening to a more complex and interesting story that won't be able to read by themselves for several years.

So please listen with joy as they building reading skills by reading their levelled books. And then let them listen with joy as you read to them.

Happy Back to School!

Summer Reading

This post comes a little late since summer is coming to a close and school starts for my kids in just 3 weeks. BUT, I just learned this when I heard Jim Trelease speak and it is very shocking.

Like it or not, there is a HUGE achievement gap between rich, middle class, and poor kids. (Obviously, this isn't always every case and love of reading makes a huge difference in those instances, but statistically speaking it is true.) Mr. Trelease said that kindergarten teachers are miracle workers because although poor kids enter school a year behind academically, by the end of kindergarten they catch up. Sadly, though most of what they gain is lost over the summer.

WHY? Because they are not read to and/or required to read during the summer.

Eventually, by the time they reach fourth grade, the poor kids are two full grades behind in reading. And it is all due to reading loss over the summer.

You can see the startling chart on Mr. Trelease's website: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/web-charts/summer-loss.pdf.

So READ, READ, READ to those kids for the next 3 weeks. If they can read themselves have them read to you! Because kids who read 20 min./day have been known to go up to 2 reading levels over the summer. If they seem like they've lost a little, that is fine... just start where they are now and work back up.

Summertime is not the time for a vacation from reading!

Let's Party!!

I spent the last week in Oklahoma celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Usborne Books and More at our National Convention. It was amazing!! Some of the highlights (in no particular order):

1. Being whisked away from the airport in a limo. Here are me, Bobbi, and up-up-upline supervisor Deb Casey in the limo.2. Enjoying a delicious steak dinner and a live, outdoor presentation of one of my all-time favorite musicals Oklahoma! as a reward for making the President's Club.

3. JIM TRELEASE!!! Have you read the Read Aloud Handbook? It is amazing and will make you a better parent. He signed my copy.

4. Not having to think about, prepare, or clean up meals and having my bed made everyday.

5. The Hawaii Celebration luncheon, team parties, late night "Name Game" sessions, and being with my wonderful friends (some that I only see 1-2 times each year).6. Flying First Class from Atlanta to Salt Lake. Let's just say... I could get used to that! I did pretty much deserve it after Delta kept ruining my day and I spent 12 hours in airports due to their incompetence. They screwed up my flight from Rome too. Let's just say we aren't impressed with Delta at our house. First Class though... was great!

7. It is always fun to be recognized for your efforts. The awards I received were: Supervisor of the Year Honorable Mention, #3 Central Group Recruiting, #4 Group Promotions, #4 Personal Recruiting, #11 Central Group Sales, and #15 Home Show Sales.

8. Coming home to my family. The kids had cleaned up the house (in their way) and Katie had laid out my pjs and the stuff in the picture below. What great kids!! Now back to reality...

Let's Get Jim Trelease on Oprah!

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Jim Trelease (and to have him sign my copy of his book, The Read Aloud Handbook). One of his messages was that we have to get the word out. The simple act of reading aloud to children can make such a huge difference in children's lives!!

Please join a campaign to get the word out!! One of the best ways is through Oprah. A gal that moms listen too. Please click the link below and scroll down to the bottom. https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?plugId=216

I'll post more on Jim's information later.

Dads

Happy Father's Day!!

In honor of the day I just want to remind everyone about the importance of dads reading to their little ones. NUMEROUS studies have linked a father reading to their child with positive academic outcomes, bonding, etc. (These are studies that specifically focused on fathers.)

Reading aloud is NOT just a job for my moms!!! In fact, at my house we ALL prefer dad to be the reader. He makes such great voices. :)

Freakonomics

I recently read an interesting book, Freakonomics, where an economist studied all sorts of things like how much money drug dealers really make, how to track teacher misconduct on standardized testing, baby naming trends, and parenting practices that make a statistical difference in the academic and professional success of their offspring.

You probably guessed that the last one had something to do with reading. You got it!

The number of books in the home was one of the top 5 factors in kids' later academic and professional achievement. The more books the family had, the more successful the kids were.

The authors didn't really hypothesize on why this is the case, they just presented the facts :), but my theory is that homes with lots books are homes were reading and learning are valued. The kids have so many good things available to read that they grow up thinking reading is fun. They learn so many fascinating things from their books that they think learning is fun too. They know their parents value reading and learning because there are lots of books in the house. Kids who think reading and learning are fun and know their parents believe it is important are bound to better in school.

So there is another reason to buy and read books for children from an unexpected, but interesting, source.

Reading to Kids of Different Ages

A couple of weeks ago I read something in the Read Aloud Handbook that I thought was interesting. Jim Trelease said that if you have children who are more than three years apart you need to read to them seperately.

This was a light-bulb moment for me. When we read aloud at night to our children we are usually reading scripture and then something like the Chronicles of Narnia, Fablehaven, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, etc. And while our two oldest will sit there totally engrossed in the story begging for another page, or two littlest usually play trucks, talk to each other, and sometimes cause disruptions.

Anyway, when I read that I realized that because those two little kids could just not "get" the story the same way the big kids werethey weren't actively participating. Thus, they were not getting the same benefits that the other kids were. I'm sure it was better than not reading at all... at least they got the positive association with books, realized my husband and I value reading, etc.... but it was definitely not the best experience they could have.

Since, that day I've tried to make a conscious effort to read to these little ones during the day by themselves (or the two little ones together). The first time I asked my almost 5 year old to bring me some stories to read to him I was shocked at what he chose: touchy-feely, lift the flap board books, books that I thought he had outgrown. Then, I realized that just because his older brother wanted me to read him Harry Potter and Nancy Drew at that age, didn't mean this little guy was ready for that yet.

I am so glad I read that passage in the Read Aloud Handbook. I've really enjoyed re-discovering the joy of reading with my two little guys.

p.s. If you are interested in getting your own copy of the Read Aloud Handbook please let me know. I can get some through Usborne Books and More at a great deal right now.