by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
One way to help engage intermediate readers (usually 4th grade and up) is to help them develop preferences and tastes as a reader. Ask them if they have thought about what their favorite type of literature is and what their least favorite one is. Some options may be...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
Building (or finding) Motivation When my girls are faced with either going to bed or going to bed they will reach for books, most likely because it prolongs the inevitable…bedtime. And that is more than okay with me. Whether it is recently checked-out library books...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
Asking questions is under-rated! If you have a child who asks questions, encourage it and foster it. If they are conditioned to wonder about things it will make their school experience all the more rich and rewarding. A child who asks questions is engaged. Engagement...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
The other day my four year old decided to write some words down using a dry erase easel. Her muse was a pile of familiar books laying there on the coffee table. While I washed dishes and cleaned up the kitchen I could see her going back and forth, first reading a word...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
Are you still looking for ways to encourage your young child to read? Would you like to instill in your child a love of books? With your help, kids from toddlers to preschoolers can get a head start on the road to reading, even if they cannot yet read themselves. Here...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
We sent grandma a birthday book recently! My daughters chose a Be There Bedtime Story they each wanted to send. They each started out their own story singing Happy Birthday to grandma. Then they got to read her the story. Silly Moments by Anna C Morrison is a book...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
I swear my first daughter taught herself to read. I literally turned around one day and there she was reading (and writing too). Sure I provided plenty of references to letters and the sounds they make in the world around us and I read to her often, but she really...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
I just registered to take my reading certification test for the state of Illinois. This will allow me to work as a reading specialist soon. Needless to say I enjoy reading and am fascinated with how we learn to read. However you may be surprised to know that growing...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
Here is a fact to ponder that I recently discovered from a non-profit organization called LitWorld. Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their name. Wow. It got me thinking about what it would be like to go through a single...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
I was stuck at a car wash today. The sun has re-appeared in our corner of the world and I discovered I could not see out of any of my windows so it was time. Stuck is probably the wrong word because a nice little moment happened. Realizing I was not alone (my four...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
Reading is not just reading. It is a very different experience for a child to read silently to him/herself as opposed to reading aloud to someone. When reading aloud your child gets to practice reading with expression and with a pace that makes sense. Teachers are...
by Laura Gorrity | General, Tips for Reading
We have had a lot of quality reading time here in the Blizzard Belt lately! It seems like the snow will just not go away. We add even a few more inches of snow today! However, I do remember how gorgeous spring is for all of my senses when it arrives. There is a light...
