Dear Families,
Developing a love of reading is something we work towards in the Grade 1/2 classroom. Although not every child is going to love reading, my hope is that every child develops at least an appreciation of reading. Fortunately, this year’s class is filled with children who love books of all kinds and who love to read. From the nonfiction books about volcanoes, which prompted many thoughtful questions in social studies, to the always popular children’s books like Miss Nelson is Missing, to our end-of-day read-aloud, The World of Pooh… The words we read spark images, the images spark imaginations, and new worlds open up our hearts. All day, every day, we are surrounded by books, including books that we have written.
Ways to Foster a Love of Reading at Home
* Read aloud to your children as often as possible.
* Keep books of all kinds in your home. Children who grow up surrounded by books tend to become lifelong readers. It is said that a home without books is like a house without windows.
* Model reading whenever you can, by sharing what you read with your children: online news, recipes, a local newspaper, or even a piece of mail.
A few days ago, two students walked across the room with their noses in their books. We were transitioning from reading time to music class, yet they just couldn’t stop reading. It was one of those moments that teachers of young children hope for, and it is one that all of us can help to create.
All the best,
Kay