Do you encourage your children to read? I hope you do! Encouraging our children to read is one of the very best things we can do as parents. With this in mind, we are bringing you some great summer reading tips and some FREE book giveaways! One of our lucky readers will win a set of 3 books for their kids! Here’s the scoop…
Dr. Tim Shanahan, past president of the International Reading Association, and author of Treasures, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s best selling elementary reading program, has offered some fabulous summer reading tips for your family! Macmillan/McGraw-Hill has generously offered to give away a series of 3 Treasures books.
Here are Dr. Tim Shanahan’s family reading tips for you:
1. Read Together! Summer usually allows families to spend more time together. This is a great opportunity to read more with your kids to help keep their skills fresh. Children learn a lot when you read to them. Even if your child can read by himself, take turns reading to each other, and be sure to talk about what you are reading. Ask questions, answer questions and explore the ideas together.
2. Share the Experience. As kids get older, help them find books, magazines, or newspaper articles that they would enjoy reading. Take the time to read them too so you can discuss them. The point is to share the reading experience.
3. Ask Questions. Even if you are not reading the same books they are, talk to your children about what they are reading. Ask them questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest helps increase their interest.
4. Designate a Reading Spot. Create a summer reading nook or spot in your home where your child can read. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating and try to set aside one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Reading night can be a special snack night, too. There is nothing better than reading with a big bowl of popcorn!
6. Mix it up. Don’t just focus on storybooks. Kids often prefer to read about fact rather than fiction, including books and articles about the environment, animals, current events, sports, and other topics. Talk to them about what they like and help them find reading materials that match those interests.
Are you already doing some of this with your children? If not, the time to start is NOW! And to help you get started, we’re giving away a series of 3 readers from the Treasures program to one of YOU!
To find out more about Treasures, visit Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s Treasures website here. These books are age specific, and the winner will be able to choose the age s/he wants. Please note you must have a valid U.S. address to enter this giveaway.
How to enter this giveaway:
It’s easy, first visit Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s Treasures website here and look around the site. Then post a comment here on this blog post with a reading tip of your own! Be sure to leave a way we can contact you in case you win! I recommend you leave your email address in the following format, something like: eadflmomma (AT) gmail (DOT) com
The contest will end on Thursday, June 25, at 9 pm Central Time. Any comments after that time will not be counted. We will use random.org to choose the winner. The winner will be announced no later than Friday, June 26. We will contact the winner, and if we do not hear from the winner within 48 hours, we will select a new winner. Good luck, and let’s get reading!!!
Want 6 free bucks? Check this out!
Anonymous says
With twin girls who are beginning to read, we are looking for new books to add to our reading. The girls keep a monthly calendar for accountable reading, and each day after they read at least 20 minutes, they do color in the block/day on their respective calendars. Being twins and sometimes competitive, they decided to keep their own chosen books in their own tote bag. Both girls do listen in on ALL the readings,….and sometimes their older brothers are listening around the corner too.
loriextremestate (at) yahoo (dot) com
Mommy's Home!! says
Thankfully my son has always loved being read to. I started reading to him before he was born. We read to him every day. My daughter isn't as thrilled about it, but because her brother likes it, she wants to be involved too so she doesn't think she is being left out of something.
Kristin says
Our public library has a great summer reading program for kids, teens and adults. My four year old is doing it for the first time and loving the "prizes". We read everyday anyway, but this makes him initiate it more often throughout the day.
[email protected]
Joy says
My two toddler sons and I act out the stories we read. This keeps them interested, but also helps them remember what they are reading, since they are actively involved.
patriciajoypollock (at) yahoo (dot) com
Traci says
Make sure the kids see you reading as well. Monkey see, monkey do. 🙂
Kendra says
Since we don't live close to a library we can't visit often. To keep our boys (4&5) interested in their own books we rotate the books around each week putting 15 or so in a basket for that week. They get very excited each Monday to see what books they will get for that week.
applereid(at)yahoo(dot)com
Home School Dad says
Once or twice a year we have library week. We go to at least 5 libraries in 5 days sometimes more. Our readers read while we read to our non readers. It is often the best week of the semester for everybody!
kaypow says
Get long distance relatives involved in sharing books and reading too. My parents live overseas and we rely on webcam a lot. My 3 year old likes to show them his favorite books on cam and Nanna and Grandad love to hear all about them and have him "read" to them, and vice versa.
pinkaboo_uk [at] yahoo {dot} com
Pat says
Let your kids read to you. They enjoy showing you what they can do.
pkildow at gmail dot com
Jinxy and Me says
Find different places to read – the backyard, the park, at the lake – a change of scenery is always nice!
Nancy says
I liked the reading tips presented. Also – as a librarian, reading teacher, and parent – I think it is important for children to have books of their own for them to keep. Start with board books and cloth books when children are very young. (Those books are almost indestructable!) Have a basket of books available to slightly older children so they can "read" whenever they want. Get books passed down from friends and family, at yard sales, etc. so kids have access to books 24/7. Keep "special" expensive books for times when when you're reading with them; of course teach your children how to care for their books. Happy reading!
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
TulsaJoeDog says
One way to encourage my children to read is to switch off…they read one page, then I read a page. This helps the book go a little faster and as they listen to my expressions they get pulled into the story.
RavenousReader says
We read together at several times during the day. It encourages quiet thought, rest, and lots of snuggles.
Infant Bibliophile says
Another important thing (that I need to get better about finding time for) is to be a role model for your kids in terms of reading; in addition to reading to/with them, let them see that you enjoy reading your own books as well.
Tracy says
It's fun to sit outside and read while having a picnic.
[email protected]
Janet and Maya says
I just read a good tip today. When you read with your child, let the child hold the book. It will allow them to control the speed. They can linger over favorite parts.
Thanks for a great giveaway! Books rock!
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
Anonymous says
I read some time ago that the most accurate predicter of whether a boy will become a reader is whether he sees his dad read – so my tip is that dads, set that example! Dee at [email protected]
Anonymous says
I always loved my mom reading to me at bedtime. So I do the same.
jeterfan2009(at)hotmail(dot)com
One Frugal Girl says
Use flash cards to get your child reading. Use ones with pictures of common household items or his/her favorite things.