1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,920 Hello, welcome to The Education Connection. 2 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:22,480 I'm Robin Wilson and I'm here to help parents and teachers set kids up for success in school 3 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:23,720 and beyond. 4 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,720 So I've been recently talking about getting ready for the next year. 5 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:32,200 I'm getting ready for kindergarten and then kindergartners getting ready for first grade 6 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,720 and first grade getting ready for second grade. 7 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,520 And I want to tell you there is one thing that you can do. 8 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,840 Now there's a lot of things you can do, but there is one thing you can do that gives you 9 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:50,520 the biggest return when preparing a child for the next school year. 10 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,160 And that one thing is daily reading. 11 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:59,120 It's right whether you're a parent looking for ways to help your child grow as a reader 12 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:04,800 in your home school or a teacher wanting to encourage families to read more at home, this 13 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:10,040 episode is packed with practical tips to make it happen. 14 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,680 So let me tell you why daily reading is the biggest return on your investment. 15 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:16,720 Think about this. 16 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:24,560 Parents who read just 20 minutes a day are exposed to nearly 2 million words a year. 17 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,040 Compare that to a child who only reads for five minutes a day. 18 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,960 They'll hear just a fraction of that. 19 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:38,680 Daily reading strengthens comprehension, builds background knowledge and helps kids succeed 20 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,360 in all subjects, not just reading. 21 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:47,880 The best part is it doesn't take expensive programs or hours of study. 22 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,840 Just a few intentional minutes a day makes a difference. 23 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,240 So I want to give some tips to parents. 24 00:01:55,240 --> 00:02:04,040 I do talk to parents and teachers, homeschool teachers, moms of homeschool, private school, 25 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:10,160 and even the parents that are working with their children after they go to school and 26 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,520 they come home in the evening. 27 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,120 So I want to talk to parents right now. 28 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,080 Make daily reading a habit at home. 29 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,880 And here are some tips that you can do to make that happen. 30 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,120 Number one, set a daily reading routine. 31 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,520 Kids thrive on consistency. 32 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,440 And if you get this started and you keep it going every day, eventually they will just 33 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:36,480 fall into it and start grabbing those books at that dedicated time that you have every 34 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:37,880 day. 35 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,240 Set a daily reading time. 36 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,000 Years might be before bed when my kids were little. 37 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,200 That's what we did. 38 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:45,200 We did before bed. 39 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:51,960 Well, actually I read to my kids every night before bed all the way up till my daughter 40 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,520 was in fifth grade. 41 00:02:53,520 --> 00:03:00,640 And even though she was a good reader, just having me read to them things like Lemony Snicket 42 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:04,680 or Junie B. Jones, I read to them every night. 43 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,120 And I read a chapter before they went to bed every night. 44 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:13,840 But my daughter would read after dinner also every night. 45 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,640 So she read to herself, which made her a reader. 46 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,880 And a lot of times once she got started, it would be time to move on to a different thing 47 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:23,880 in our schedule. 48 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,800 And I would have to almost like, you've got to stop reading because you need to get bath 49 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:34,160 time or, you know, other things that we had to do if we had to leave and go somewhere. 50 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:40,520 But you can set those times for before bed, after dinner, right after school, and just 51 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:41,960 stick to it. 52 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,680 The more reading becomes a habit, the easier it is to keep going. 53 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:52,440 Now one way, and this is number two, but one way to keep their interest in reading is to 54 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,120 let them pick out the books. 55 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,600 So a fun thing we used to do when the kids were little at home is I would take them to 56 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:05,320 the library every week, and I would let them pick out about five books a piece, and then 57 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,760 I would pick out one as well. 58 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,480 And if they are picking out their own books, they get excited about it. 59 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:18,240 And I know that the statistics are that if a child is enjoying what they're reading or 60 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:24,800 if they have a interest in whatever it is, they can actually read two levels above where 61 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:30,960 they are just because of their interest and their motivation to figure those words out. 62 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,440 So if you want to make it more fun, let the kids pick out their own books at your local 63 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:41,720 library or if you go to buy books maybe once a week or something, whatever your budget can 64 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,160 afford, I know another good place. 65 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:49,520 If you go to thrift stores, unfortunately it used to be 69 cents. 66 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,640 I think it's more than that now. 67 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:57,320 And I would let my kids always, always pick out books when they went and we got to where 68 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,640 we were only picking out one book when we went because they got to have so many books 69 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,920 at some point. 70 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:09,880 So it might be a graphic novel if they're a little bit older, a favorite bedtime story 71 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:16,800 or even a comic book, choice builds motivation and don't underestimate comic books. 72 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,360 If there are words on a page and they're reading them, I think that's a big score. 73 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,600 So let them pick out that comic book and maybe you want to pick out something that they can 74 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,480 read to you can read to them and they can get interested. 75 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:35,320 I know like if you pick up a Clifford, the big red dog and you read it to them, sometimes 76 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:40,880 if they enjoy that book, they want to read more of those and you know Clifford has a 77 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,000 lot of books. 78 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,600 So if you get a series go and they get excited about it and they want to read those books 79 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,880 that you've read to them. 80 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,160 Read aloud together. 81 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,520 So don't stop reading aloud just because your child can read on their own. 82 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,040 Like I said, I read to my kids clear. 83 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,520 I mean, my daughter was, it was all the way through her fifth grade year. 84 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:10,920 Once she was in sixth grade, it got to be where it was like I, she wanted to read her 85 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:12,440 own books before bed. 86 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,920 And so I kind of laid that down a little bit, but every once in a while I would pick it 87 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:23,520 up just because mama wanted to read to them just for good memories. 88 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,560 But reading together boosts the fluency because they hear the way you talk, they hear the 89 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,760 way you have the fluency, the comprehension. 90 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,760 And if you want to stop in the middle of the book and say, wait a minute, I thought this 91 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:40,400 was going, let me go back and look again and reread that. 92 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:46,120 That's modeling for them that it's okay to go back and check your reading comprehension. 93 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:51,280 If something isn't sounding right or if something isn't making sense, you know how you can go 94 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:56,280 back and check that in your kiddos will see you modeling that and they will do that as 95 00:06:56,280 --> 00:06:57,280 well. 96 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:00,240 Plus, it's a great bonding time. 97 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,240 Those were some of the best memories that we had before bed. 98 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,160 Ask those questions while you're reading. 99 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:12,160 Go make reading interactive, ask your children the questions like what do you think is going 100 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,160 to happen next? 101 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:18,320 Or if you end that chapter, what do you think tomorrow's chapter is going to be about? 102 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,640 How do you think that character feels? 103 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:28,120 So ask those good questions to keep your kids engaged with the story and build comprehension. 104 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,080 Try audio books or read along. 105 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:39,160 So nowadays you have YouTube that has those books, people read, they've read so many books 106 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,400 on YouTube. 107 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:45,440 So if you can, if you're super busy or if you just want to switch it up a little bit, you 108 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:51,360 can find a book on YouTube and you can also have that book. 109 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,400 And it's kind of, do you remember when we were kids? 110 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:54,400 I don't know about you. 111 00:07:54,400 --> 00:08:00,040 I'm a little bit older, but we would have the record player in the book would be in 112 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:04,520 my lap and the record player would be going and then it would say ding and it was time 113 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:05,960 to turn the page. 114 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,680 You can still do that with YouTube. 115 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:14,280 There's no ding or anything, but they can watch the YouTube as they turn the page. 116 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:19,000 They will turn their own page and they get to see it right there and read along. 117 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:28,680 Have them read along books, listen in the car during breakfast or even while doing chores. 118 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,920 Number six, make reading fun. 119 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,280 Create a cozy reading nook. 120 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,920 Start a reading sticker chart. 121 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:37,960 Make a fun library trip. 122 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:43,400 So if I've already, as I've already mentioned, and when kids associate reading with fun, 123 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,040 they'll want to do it more. 124 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,360 I know in the summer they have the reading programs where kids read so many books, they 125 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,920 get the prizes. 126 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:57,360 Join them up for those because that is just a good incentive to keep them reading. 127 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,360 You know I want to talk to teachers and if you're home school, this will apply to you 128 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,720 again as well. 129 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,920 But tips for teachers encouraging daily reading at home and school. 130 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,720 So number one, send home a simple reading log. 131 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,640 I do this every year. 132 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:22,600 I've done it less most recently because of the homework statistics of trying not to send 133 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,320 too much homework. 134 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:31,520 But there were many years I had parents help keep a daily track of reading with an easy-to-use 135 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,020 log, no stress. 136 00:09:33,020 --> 00:09:39,280 They just had to write the title in the book and sign it and how many pages that they read. 137 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,520 And I send home those little, for first grade, I send home those little eight-page books 138 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,760 so it's super quick for them to read. 139 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,640 Number two, model a love for reading. 140 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:54,800 When kids see you excited about books, teachers, they're more likely to be excited too. 141 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,880 And I know you're already excited. 142 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,640 You became a teacher and so you already share that love. 143 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,400 Share your favorite books. 144 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:10,920 Talk about what you're reading and make read-a-louds engaging using those voices. 145 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,720 Number three, encourage the parents. 146 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:20,800 So if you're a teacher in a private school and you are, oh, you're caring for students 147 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:26,200 in your class, you can include parents by sending a quick email or newsletter explaining 148 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:30,640 the benefits of reading aloud, even for the older kids. 149 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:35,560 Sometimes parents think they should stop reading to their child once they can read independently, 150 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:37,320 but that's not true. 151 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,360 And sometimes parents are super busy. 152 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:45,480 I know as a parent, I always was, and just bringing my attention to the fact that we 153 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:50,240 need to set aside a time for reading is just beneficial. 154 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:55,400 It's like, oh yeah, and the teacher can help you remember to do that. 155 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,320 Let the kids borrow books from your classroom. 156 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:05,120 Not every child has access to books at home, so you can set up a classroom book bag or 157 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,600 a lending library to encourage reading outside of school. 158 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:16,680 I know that thrift stores are a really good place to get books, and I bought some from 159 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:23,960 there, but also we have, it's called the teacher store in a town near us, and so they offer 160 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,360 for a small fee once a year. 161 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:34,880 I can go in there and get books as a licensed teacher to allow my kids to take home to borrow, 162 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:36,720 but they have so many other things in there. 163 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:43,880 So check around, see if there is a teacher outlet or something that your community, I 164 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:51,360 know that a local college also has a day where teachers in their community can come in and 165 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:58,080 get books for free to help books and all kinds of things, post-it notes, pens, pencils, all 166 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:05,200 kinds of things, and so your community might have something like that for you as well. 167 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:10,920 Despite the reading success, recognize milestones with certificates, stickers, special reader 168 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,400 of the week spotlight. 169 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,760 A little encouragement goes a long way. 170 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,760 Partner with your parents, and some of that will be with yourself because you might be 171 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:25,040 homeschooling your own children, but keep parents, maybe your spouse in the loop with 172 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:31,280 reading tips in your weekly newsletter or just talking to them, but you might be sending 173 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:39,120 this to someone else, maybe a caregiver, babysitters, help them understand what's going on in your 174 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:45,040 classroom and then when families and teachers work together, kids thrive. 175 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,160 So I have some closing thoughts and a call to action. 176 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:55,360 Daily reading is the most, not kidding guys, it's the most powerful way to prepare kids 177 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,880 for success. 178 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:04,760 Whether they're moving into kindergarten or to fifth grade, the key is consistency. 179 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,160 Just a few minutes a day adds up over time. 180 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:13,640 So what's one thing you can do today to encourage daily reading? 181 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,880 Pick a book, set a timer, and start small. 182 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:24,080 And I want to ask if you have found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe to the Education 183 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,800 Connection so you never miss an episode. 184 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:32,840 So if you know somebody that this episode will benefit, please share with them. 185 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:39,560 I also have reading resources available in my Teachers Pay Teacher Store, which is at 186 00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:44,040 Robin Wilson 1st Grade Love at Teachers Pay Teachers. 187 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,840 I can link that in the show notes. 188 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:52,320 So thank you so much for listening and I'm going to see you next time on the Education 189 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:58,320 Connection.