At the moment we are reading the Spiderwick Chronicles. The boys are really enjoying it. As I was reading to them last night I had 'a moment'. We were tucked up in our queen size bed, me in the middle. Each boy had hold of my long hair and were twisting it through their fingers. This is something that they have done since they were babies. It still amazes me that Number One son will be ten in August and he still twists my hair {(:>) joy of joys!}
As we sat reading I remembered back to my training as a school teacher. There was something called the nuerological impress method of learning to read. It's where an adult reads aloud to a child and the child tracks or follows along with their finger. There were studies at the time that showed that kids really responded to this style of learning and picked up reading quickly. They also learnt all the intonation, that is the ups and downs in your voice, or the expression.
But... you know what I reckon teaches children to read ? ......
LOVE. Snuggling them up, taking the time, immersing them in rich stories, that special togetherness that probabaly can't be studied scientifically. It's probably called 'modelling' or 'osmosis' but to me it's the love quotient. - making reading a fun, intersting, magical world of escape rather than a punishment, chore, or something you have to do so you don't get in trouble for missing your homework at school.
Teach them to LOVE it. Reading can take them on many adventures in life.
2 comments:
We set aside specific times at night for our children to read and as part of homework the other night our daughter has to read aloud for 15mins. I must say it was very enjoyable to hear about the adventures of the mythical creatures my daughter loves. Snuggle times are the best too ! (Miserly Mum aka FruGal)
thats really interesting that you say about the child following the text as the adult reads, my son joe, 7, has just started asking me to point to the text when i read to him.sharing books together is so important and special
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