Learning to Read

Identifying Signs of Reading Disorders in Your Child and How to Help

Team Literati — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:35:04 +0000

If your child is struggling to develop reading and language skills, it could be a sign of a disorder like dyslexia. But there are methods and resources available to help them overcome these challenges.

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Robin Newman

We spoke with Jordan Boyce, licensed dyslexia therapist and certified academic language therapist from Boyce Literacy Services, about the possible indicators of such disorders and the ways you can help instill a love of reading even in children experiencing difficulties.

Literati:

What are reading and writing language disorders and how common are they?

Jordan:

Written language disorders are pretty common. There are different statistics: some say anywhere from 10–15% of the population; some say as high as 30–40% of the population. I think that’s a little high. I think 20% is a pretty good estimate.

A lot of people think that reading disorders are visual, but they’re not at all. They’re actually language-based disorders that are neurobiologic in origin. People think that, “Oh, they’re flipping their letters and get their ‘B’ and ‘D’ backwards.” While that can be a sign for a reading or written language disorder, that’s not visual; that’s actually language-based.

I think that’s why a lot of times it goes undetected; outsiders might not necessarily see that in the individual who’s having that difficulty. And I think that a lot of schools aren’t necessarily teaching kids in the way that they need to be taught how to read.

Literati:

What are some of the signs that your child might be struggling with a reading disorder? I know you mentioned that it’s not necessarily visual, but what can parents look out for?

Jordan:

You can see signs from really early on, even in a toddler. So if I say a word and I ask my toddler who can speak to repeat it back, they might have difficulty. They may have already forgotten the word or they may mix up the syllables or mix up the sounds or say it backwards.

When they’re in the older preschool years, they have difficulty naming letters. Then getting into kindergarten and first grade, some of the signs might be difficulty segmenting or isolating sounds in words or identifying the first or last sound in the word.

And then as they get into the later elementary ages, they’re starting to do more reading and writing in school. If they’re having trouble with the writing workload, having difficulty getting their thoughts on paper, or not able to focus on things like grammar—all those things can be signs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a learning disability, but if they show two or three of those red flags, I would definitely start to be concerned.

Literati:

How can a parent who might be concerned tell if it’s just the everyday struggle of learning to read versus having something like dyslexia that needs intervention?

Jordan:

Even doing this as my profession, I struggle with this with my own child. I think… if they show just one of those red flags, then help support them with that one difficulty they’re having.

For example, rhyming is a big one. If they’re having difficulty with rhyming words and knowing if words rhyme or not, but if they’re not having any other difficulties, then just practice that casually in your home.

See if they’re able to get it. Mention it to the child’s teacher. See if they can work on that at school. And if they’re still struggling after working on it a little bit, then you might talk to your child’s teacher about getting some extra support outside of the classroom.

If they’re still struggling in those areas, then consider talking to a professional about whether or not you should seek out an evaluation.

Literati:

Is it possible for kids to grow out of dyslexia or other reading disorders? Are these issues that can be managed over time?

Jordan:

You cannot grow out of dyslexia once you are diagnosed with it. You’re born with dyslexia because it’s neurobiological in origin. So you will always have it.

Thankfully, people with dyslexia are extremely, extremely bright. It’s just one small part of their brain. If you’re able to get the correct intervention with high frequency—the earlier the better—oftentimes, people will never even know that they have dyslexia.

So, the outlook is very good. There’s so much more knowledge and awareness now that more individuals are being identified and earlier than they used to be.

Literati:

What can parents do to support a child who may be struggling with dyslexia?

Jordan:

You want to read to your children a lot. You want them to enjoy reading. I tell a lot of my students’ parents that I want the children to be reading books and stories that not only make them feel successful, but that also allow them to use the skills that they’ve learned. So, I don’t want them reading books that are too advanced for them. I want them to be using books that have a lot of words that the child is able to sound out. Sometimes they might feel a little bit babyish to the child depending on the age. But it’s so important for them to be able to use their skills to increase their fluency. It gives them confidence because they’re successful.

Parents should also be reading more advanced books to the child. Depending on the age, that might be picture books or it could mean chapter books, but you want the child to be exposed to rich vocabulary.

This is the big one: If they have dyslexia, tell them they have dyslexia, because you don’t want them to go around thinking that something’s wrong with them. I like to tell my students that we all have connections in our brain and our brains are all different. So the strong connections in my brain might be different from the strong connections in your brain. So that’s why some of us are really good artists and others are really good at reading and others are great at sports.

Having that open dialogue—making them aware that they have this thing called dyslexia or whatever learning disability they may have—helps them to understand that it’s not a bad thing. It just makes them different and unique.

Thanks to our discussion with Jordan Boyce, here’s what we’ve learned about reading disorders and how to support a child who might be dealing with one:

Reading disorders are language-based, not visual
Reading disorders are fairly common
Concerned parents should be on the lookout for these signs:
- Difficulty repeating words back
- Mixing up words, syllables, and sounds
- Struggling to name letters or isolate sounds
- Trouble with rhyming
- Problems writing (for those old enough)
Consider a professional consultation if a child shows several of these signs, but a single difficulty can be worked on casually at home
Let kids practice skills independently using books you know they can handle; read more advanced books to them to boost vocabulary
Encourage reading engagement by creating incentives and asking thought-provoking questions during shared storytelling

Explore Literati Book Clubs for elementary school students ages 6-11 with book boxes at our Voyager, Navigator, and Aviator levels, as well as educational resources for parents.

The post Identifying Signs of Reading Disorders in Your Child and How to Help appeared first on Literati.

How Repeating a Story Develops Vocabulary

Team Literati — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:35:09 +0000

Reading the same books over and over to your preschooler or Kindergartener may make you feel like you’re stuck in a time loop, but the truth is you’re making change happen, gradually affecting your young listener’s neural pathways. As kids this age continue to learn the strange language that is English, they rely on multiple readings of a story in order to get a stronger grasp of the words at its core.

But what is it about the young brain that makes this repetition so useful? Is it like what a mantra is to meditation? Or what validation is to a needy friend? Repeatedly exposing new words to kids is important, but so is the context in which they’re showcased. Back (again) with more information on the book-brain connection, Literati is here to root on your future Wordle wunderkind!

Storybooks and language learning

You could try to teach a child new words through simple flashcards, but learning a series of words without context is an exercise in rote memorization, not understanding. That’s why storybooks are a more effective (and fun!) means of building stronger vocabularies.

Several different research studies over the past few decades have shown that repetitive shared storybook reading has improved young children’s ability to retain new words. One notable study conducted by the University of Sussex used two different approaches to teach unfamiliar words to kids.

The kids who encountered those words over repeated readings of the same books could better recall their meanings than those who encountered them over several stories read only once. What’s up with that?

The effect of context on learning new words

During the first readthrough of a storybook, children focus mainly on the storyline and imagery. But once these elements become familiar through repetition, attention shifts toward still-unfamiliar aspects such as new words.

These words become more memorable when they are part of a rhyming pattern or are paired with visuals. Sound and imagery provide a context for language to be tied back to, and revisiting this context helps words take root in memory.

So in the Sussex study, the kids who didn’t read stories multiple times struggled to recall the target words because the context in which they appeared kept changing. But that’s not to say you should keep fewer books in the house!

Best books to read on repeat

Here’s a sampling of books that often utilize memorable repetition, are sometimes self-aware about the act of repetition, and are always worth reading many, many times:

Interrupting Chicken

by David Ezra Stein

This humorous story is a relatable look at a familiar bedtime ritual that will likely mirror your own experience repeatedly telling the same tales. But it also shows how kids’ constant wonder keeps things fresh.

Gator, Gator, Gator

by Daniel Bernstrom & Frann Preston-Gannon

This adventure narrative uses rhyme and repetition to encourage a spirit of discovery in young listeners as they comprehend new words.

Duck, Duck, Moose!

By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen & Noah Z. Jones

“Duck” and “moose” are the only words you’ll encounter in this book, but the repetition and supporting pictures and sounds will ensure that your kids get those words down pat.

Bear Can’t Sleep

by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Various forest animals come to Bear’s lair aiming to help him sleep. This repeated story pattern along with a rhyme scheme and some bigger words will strengthen your child’s vocabulary.

The Snatchabook

by Helen Docherty & Thomas Docherty

The theft of a community’s well-worn books creates an opportunity to share a bedtime story with the lonely culprit. This rhyme-rich story celebrates reading and warms hearts.

It’s an encore, not déjà vu

Practice is essential to developing any skill. When it comes to learning new words through reading, it’s not worth gathering every known usage of “hippopotamus” in storybooks just to make the term stick. Use repetition to create familiarity with imagery and cadence, which then serves as the backdrop that puts unfamiliar words in sharp relief. (And that’s how “hippopotamus” finds its way to the hippocampus).

Get vocabulary-boosting books worth rereading with Literati Book Clubs

If you’re going to be repeating stories, make sure they’re ones your kid really likes. Signing up for a Literati Book Club lets you share your child’s reading interests with curators who spring into action, selecting the choicest cuts of high-quality reads with a long shelf life and plenty of new words to discover. Then the books will keep on coming to your home, as long as you like!

The post How Repeating a Story Develops Vocabulary appeared first on Literati.

How Do We Choose Our Books?

Charlie DeTar — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:00:10 +0000

If you’re new to Literati, you may be wondering: by what standard do we judge our books? How expertly do we review book options, and ultimately, how do we determine if a story can stand up to our Literati standards?

We understand there’s a wealth of children’s books out there to choose from—and decision fatigue is real. Sometimes, you find treasures. But sometimes you arrive home with new books, only to discover that the stories aren’t as great as they first seemed. Sometimes, your child doesn’t like your book selection, and then reading gets neglected.

But if you’re not new here, you know that Literati books are special. They’re profound stories with vibrant illustrations and rich characters that offer a unique, joyful reading experience for you and your child to truly cherish together.

How do we do it?

Magicians never reveal their tricks—but we’re not magicians or mind-readers. We’re people who are passionate about sparking a lasting love of stories. Here, the books perform the magic, so here’s how that magic arrives on your doorstep:

What We Do

We read a lot of books. More than that—we OBSESS over books. We look for a perfect blend of captivating ideas, guiding illustrations, impactful themes, and characters that become fast friends. When it comes to choosing the perfect Literati books for our Members, our literary intuition lights the way.

We ask the experts. We are fortunate to know lots of other friends in the biz. Educators, publishers, librarians, teachers, parents and even kids continually help us cultivate a long, beautiful list of thousands of book recommendations.

We hunt for gems. Uniqueness is everything. We’re constantly asking ourselves: what takes a book from good to undeniably amazing? Our team is constantly searching and searching (and searching) for stories that truly stand out. We look for books that are thoughtfully written, expertly illustrated, and hands-down the best of the best, whether they’re classics, debut stories, or somewhere in between.

What We Don’t Do

We don’t shop online. At Literati, there are many things we do to set ourselves apart from popular online book retailers, whose libraries are curated by algorithms instead of book lovers. We use a thorough, personal process to hand-select every story for your blossoming bookworms.

We don’t look for bestsellers. That’s not to say that we hate the classics (we don’t), but we know that you’re already familiar with Goodnight Moon and Madeline. We seek out more rare titles, supporting the authors and illustrators that are producing incredible gems that you won’t find on your E-Reader or next to the TV aisle.

Across the board, our books are:

Artful. We genuinely see books are a piece of art, and every story delivered to every member reflects that. Plus, we love supporting our favorite illustrators.

Unusual. We said it before and we’ll say it again: we choose books that stand out. We’re always looking for books that bring new activities and interesting dynamics that make reading a full experience.

Engaging. We read the books ourselves. If we’re not completely swept off our feet by the narrative and ignoring everything around us, then we don’t choose that book. It’s as simple as that.

A story for every step of the way.

We make sure to select literature that’s going to stimulate the specific development stages your child will go through. As such, the qualities that take a book from good to great are highly-dependent on age and development. We do our best to ensure that your child’s love of reading grows at the same pace they do.

Books for Babies & Toddlers: Ages 0-3

That’s right, even babies need books! In fact, babies especially need books, and it’s crucial to bring stories into their first years to spark important language development. Our littlest members receive elevated board books rich in primary concepts, vibrant shapes, and colorful characters. And if the ABCs start feeling too simple, take a half-step forward with higher-concept board books.

Hands-On. We know that this stage is all about development and exposure. We look for the best books that they can get their tiny hands on—all the flaps, flips and moving pieces to stimulate those precious little smiles (and brains, too!).
Value-based. It’s never too early to start teaching little people to be good people. Our Literati books focus on early exposure to important values like kindness and confidence.
Beautiful. Those big eyes are absorbing everything they see with so much passion and intensity, so we make sure to give them something truly exhilarating to look at. Literati books also double as contemporary pieces of art, with gorgeous and colorful designs that will impress you as much as your tiny reader.

Books for Preschoolers: Ages 3-5

It’s a transformative time for brain development: your little sprouts are off to preschool! They’re also asking non-stop questions as their curiosity—and their vocabularies—blossom. To fuel this fun stage, our book boxes transform preschool reading into a celebration of story. These books pair vivid illustrations with compelling characters to drive newfound imaginations.

Character, character, character. At this age, personalities are flourishing and strong senses of self are developing. We look for strong characters with stories that children love to follow. Preschoolers are just beginning to define character traits, and these stories will help them decide who they are—and who they want to be!
Experiential. Beginning with this age, we’re looking for stories that are uniquely interactive and fun. They have something that us book nerds call “the story symphony.” Truly quality elements come together like music, for a sensational experience that sweeps us directly into the books.
Short and sweet. The perfect children’s book for preschoolers is when an unforgettable character comes to life with an unforgettable story. It’s powerful, well-written, beautifully illustrated—and bite-sized. That’s the sweet spot!

Books for New Readers: Ages 5-7

Kindergarten and the early grade school years are when your kid is starting to make real friends—learning about themselves and others at a rapid rate. Every member receives Literati books that emphasize immersive illustrations and vibrant, multicultural stories. It’s the perfect age for nourishing deeper curiosity.

Character, character, character. Just like Preschoolers, these are key years for children to discover who they are. Our storylines may explore more educational and nonfictional topics, but strong characters reign supreme.
Smart. You’ll enjoy these stories just as much as your little one. Cheeky, punny and contemporary interactions allow them to explore human connections while giving everyone the giggles. We know, there’s nothing better.
Factual. As our little ones are becoming not-so-little, we can introduce nonfiction tales that bring to life all the real things that make our world so amazing. But it never should feel like school, so we always look for books that balance these “lessons” with incredible illustrations and catchy, contemporary language.

Books for Independent Readers: Ages 7-9

And just like that, they are starting to read on their own! Our book boxes bridge the transition from reading to your child to reading with your child. Our starter chapter books span the wide variety of reading levels in this age, and showcase detailed characters and satisfying plots, with just enough visual clues.

Immersive. Stories for this age are not so much about strong characters as a strong, propulsive narrative, when your reader is swept off their little feet and propelled head-first into the story.
Informative. Animal facts, space stories and science galore! This is the perfect time for kids to start developing genuine, long-lasting interest in certain subjects. These members receive books that encourage a variety of new topics, so you can see what kindles a particular flame in your reader.
Just long enough. It’s important at this age that reading for fun remains, well, fun. Introductory chapter books are an exciting next step that make your kid feel older and mature—with accompanying illustrations and exciting storylines that are perfectly digestible and enjoyable.

Books for Advanced Readers: Ages 9-12

Ah, those last, precious years before we hit the teenage stage. These readers receive a diverse selection of new and classic novels alongside nonfiction and activity books. These books challenge, inspire, and help fledgling readers soar.

Exhilarating. Every story should reach out and grab the reader, bringing them on a whirlwind of emotions and excitement. Whether it’s a creepy mystery, action-packed drama, or maybe a heartfelt story, we choose books that truly captivate all the senses.
Challenging. When it comes to facts, these readers can handle a little more umph. We focus on nonfiction and educational books that can really expand the minds and intellect of our preteen readers without boring them.
A little lengthy. 10-page chapters? Lots of words on one page? Bring it on. At this age, many readers already understand the joy of disappearing into a good book, so we find stories that make this feeling last.

Books for Young Adults: Ages 13+

Your teenager might start to distance themselves—but if their nose is in a book, they’re still in good hands. Members in this age range get hooked on compelling YA novels that widen their worldview, no matter the genre. From magical new worlds to stories of real life teens, there’s always a shocking twist.

Encouraging. We all remember the insecurities that come with teenagedom. Traditional coming-of-age narratives stick for a reason: young characters who face formidable adversity resonate with readers and give them the confidence to face challenges of their own.
Bingeable. Fast-paced plots, achingly high stakes, and unforgettably unique characters: these are the ingredients that make YA so captivating. We only send stories that we can’t put down (and, more often than not, finish in a weekend).
Epic. Mind-bending magic, multiple points of view, and an entire world to save? These readers can handle it. You may find yourselves comparing page counts with these action-packed reads—or perhaps you’ll even consider swapping for fun. (We certainly do!)

From all of us at Literati — happy reading! Where will your books take you this year?

The post How Do We Choose Our Books? appeared first on Literati.

How Many Bedtime Stories Are Too Many?

Charlie DeTar — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 22:48:22 +0000

The bedtime story: a classic pillar of parenthood. Most of us can still remember those precious moments before we had to go to sleep, when Mom or Dad would sit bedside and read aloud a story as we let our sleepy imaginations wander the wide landscape of storyland. We certainly didn’t realize at the time that those moments were helping fuel the foundation of the person we’d become. But it’s true.

Benefits of Bedtime Stories

There is tons of research out there touting the beautiful benefits of bedtime stories. And if you know anything about Literati, you probably know we were founded on brain science and we love to nerd out over it.

Starting with children as young as newborns, reading out loud to your child often can result in a bigger vocabulary and an overall stronger grasp of language skills.

Throughout their early development years, storytime becomes a stepping stone for conversation, says Lise Eliot, Ph.D, assistant professor of neuroscience at Chicago Medical School and author of What’s Going On in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life. Think about all the wonderful things you can share with your child through conversation. Bedtime stories are the best place to start.

As they get older, you may notice a wild-streak in your toddlers, accompanied by endearing bursts of energy. It’s hard to keep up, and can be even harder to get them to slow down. Neuroscientists agree that when you snuggle up and read a book together, it helps soothe and comfort your child. Cortisone levels—which cause stress—are lowered and they’re able to be calm and focused. In fact, reading has proven to be among the best activities we can do to destress. That’s why storytime is great before bedtime.

Bedtime stories are good, got it. But—what’s the best way to do them?

We all want to do the absolute best for our children. When you think about the incredible importance of reading together, you might feel some pressure to make sure you do it right. How many are too many? How old is too old? What time of the day is best?

Never fear. We did some research (told you—we’re research nerds) and we’re here to help you become a bedtime story pro.

When to start, and when to stop.

Get started right away! It may seem silly to read to newborns, but while you read to your babies, the sound of your voice helps their little brains absorb so many important goodies.

Keep going! Nightly stories can remain a bonding time throughout the toddler and pre-teen years. Watch their attentive listening turn to attentive learning, as they start to recognize words and eventually even read full sentences.

Even as your child begins to read on their own, they can still benefit from being read to. As they get older, choose complex books a bit above their own reading level that you can read to them. This allows them to continue expanding their vocabulary, plus reading these more mature stories can foster lots of conversations between you and your growing child. Certain topics that may be more difficult to explain, such as death or prejudice, are easier to tackle outside the context of your own life.

Why stop?! Experts suggest parents continue the reading tradition even into the teen years. Instead of leaving them alone in their rooms to read at bedtime, read together in the family room before bed. You can even create family book clubs, reading the same stories and discussing each one.

Survey says: we are never too young—or too old—for bedtime stories.

Is timing, really, everything?

Storytime is traditionally at bedtime because it helps us cuddle up, calm down and settle our kids into sleepytime. But does it matter what time we crack open the book every night?

The short answer is no.

Every child is unique and the bedtime battles can vary throughout the years, so it’s better to be flexible and find what works for your family. Try to catch them somewhere between wide awake and falling asleep. You want them to be alert enough to engage in the story, at least in the beginning. If their sweet little eyes are heavy right after bathtime, it might be better to read beforehand, or while you fill the tub.

Maybe storytime happens right after dinner on the couch, or after jammies in bed. What’s more important is that it happens, as often as possible. Daily is the goal, which often requires some discipline on the part of the parent. Even when you’re tired from the work day, the kids are driving you bonkers, and you just want to relax on your own—try to stick to your bedtime story routine. It will pay off in the long run.

On especially tough days, reward yourself with a quiet glass of wine or ice cream when they’re all settled in bed. You’ve earned it.

Survey says: don’t stress too much over timing. Frequency is key.

Okay, so what’s the magic number of bedtime stories?

Well, let’s see what the experts say:

UK reading charity Booktrust recommends aiming for 10 minutes of reading every day. Here in the USA, it’s generally recommended to read a minimum of 15 minutes. So, use this as a rule of thumb. But don’t etch that rulebook in stone!

As your children get older, try increasing the time to 20-30 minutes. If they’re asking for more, that’s ALWAYS a good thing! As long as your kids are still getting enough sleep (let’s avoid that tired crankiness), pack in as much reading as they want.

“Again, again!” will start to ring in your ears as your kids find their favorite stories. Should you answer their request? Absolutely! Repeating stories helps further their brain development.

“The first time children hear a book, they don’t catch everything,” says Virginia Walter, Ph.D., associate professor in the graduate school of education and information studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. But as they hear it again and again, they start to notice patterns and sequences and can predict what happens next. This reading comprehension lends itself to things like math and science later in life.

So, experts say 10-15 minutes. Literati says, read for as long as their little heart desires, without cutting into that much-needed sleep. And feel free to read the same book a few times over!

In conclusion: there is no magic number, or perfect way to bedtime story.

The bedtime story is perfectly magic all on it’s own.

The post How Many Bedtime Stories Are Too Many? appeared first on Literati.

Phrase Memorization and Why It’s an Essential Milestone

Charlie DeTar — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 21:35:55 +0000

From Preschool to Kindergarten, children ages 3–5 develop reading skills by leaps and bounds.

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Robin Newman

We sat down with Erin Bailey, director of programs and content at Reading Is Fundamental, to talk about this crucial time for reading development and one very important (often overlooked) literacy milestone: the memorization of phrases.

Bailey explained why this is pivotal and how parents can actively nourish this step in their child’s reading development.

Literati:

One of the things happening developmentally for readers between the ages of 3 and 5 is memorization of phrases. Can you tell us why that’s such an important reading milestone and skill that kids should work on?

Erin Bailey:

So, repetitive phrases for ages 3 to 5 is a really important skill because it helps children develop concepts about print, or what we like to call “print awareness.” This means that children are developing the awareness that spoken words can be written down, and that text conveys meaning. And the reason why repetitive phrases are so helpful is because these phrases are predictable. So they’re easy for children to make the connection between the spoken words and the text itself.

Literati:

Is there a way parents can help to reinforce that memorization of repeating phrases?

Erin Bailey:

Absolutely. Finding books with repetitive phrases and books that have a sing-song melody to them is a great way to play with and reinforce repetitive phrases.

Even singing songs can help with this—the tune of “Happy Birthday” can basically be turned into any song. I like to use it when I’m singing “good morning” to my daughter. So, instead of “happy birthday to you,” I’ll sing: “Good morning to you. Good morning to you. Good morning to Ruthie. Good morning to you.”

And using familiar melodies like this can help with that repetitive phrasing.

Some great books that reinforce repeating phrases are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle. The words are “brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?” and then the picture helps reinforce both the animal name and the color. So that’s great for vocabulary development as well. I recommend any of the books in that genre, like Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? because it’s a great repetitive book and the pictures help to support what the line is going to say next.

Another one that I would recommend is the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This is a great book with a repetitive phrase, and you can do it in a sing-song way, just as I did with “Happy Birthday to You.”

And you can even add motions. So, for example, for “what a beautiful day” or “long wavy grass,” you can add a hand motion or sweeping arm motions to those. And also sound effects that go along with the grass, like “swishy, squashy, swishy, squashy.” All of these things, particularly when you pair movement and sound, become a multi-sensory activity. And multi-sensory activities are the best way for children to learn because they work with all different parts of the brain.

Literati:

When you’re integrating sounds and movement, should the parent decide what that sound or movement should be, or let the kids come up with it themselves?

Erin Bailey:

I would do a combination. If the kids have a movement in mind, I would follow their lead. If they need a little bit of help, parents can certainly come up with movements for them. But I’ve found, particularly working with kids in Kindergarten and 1st Grade, they love coming up with their own movements and sound effects.

Literati:

When you introduce a child to a book with repeating phrases, is there an average amount of time it takes for them to start to memorize it?

Erin Bailey:

It depends on the child. Just like you or I, some people can listen to a song once and memorize the lyrics, and then others will have heard the song 10 times and they still don’t remember the lyrics. So, I think it definitely varies from child to child.

Want to help your child be the best reader they can be?

Literati Book Clubs deliver books for your child based on their reading level and interests—improving reading skills at their pace and adapting to their needs.

Discover our 14 Reading Levels, with Stargazer to Ranger levels recommended for children ages 3 to 5. Tell us about your reader to find which level would suit them best!

The post Phrase Memorization and Why It’s an Essential Milestone appeared first on Literati.

Why it’s Vital to Read Aloud to Babies

Charlie DeTar — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 21:32:04 +0000

When is the best time to start reading to your child? At what age do they really begin to benefit from reading?

You can (and should!) read to your children as early as possible, according to literacy expert and author, Maya Smart.

When you read to your baby, they learn much more than you might think, gaining valuable information that they’ll use to learn to read, speak, and write as they grow.

Remember: you are your child’s first teacher.

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Robin Newman

Maya Smart is a parent educator, literacy advocate, and the author of Reading for our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six. During a recent interview with us, she explained why it’s so important to read to your little ones early and often, and what babies gain developmentally in the process.

Literati:

Knowing that your expertise is in children’s literacy from birth to 5 years old, we’d love your perspective on why it’s important for parents to read to their babies.

Maya:

It’s really important for parents to read to infants and babies as soon as they bring them home from the hospital and get into those home routines, along with changing diapers, meal times, and all of those things. Bring reading into the mix right off the bat because it’s the way that their brain structure and function are built— through back-and-forth conversational exchanges with parents.

Books are a really great way to get parents talking to babies that are not yet forming words and responding. They’re a great jumping-off point for introducing all that wonderful vocabulary that kids will need to recognize in print down the road.

Literati:

What are some ways parents can incorporate reading to their baby into the daily routine?

Maya:

I’ve heard from parents who’ve read their kids all kinds of things. One friend read her baby her dissertation because she was a PhD candidate and that’s where her mind was. So, of course the child is getting language, but when you’re reading your dissertation, you’re not necessarily giving them the sort of bite-sized, infant-size vocabulary.

I always recommend just a big, thick, board book. And oftentimes, those will just feature a few illustrations of an object—something that’s easy for parents to point to and label and kind of begin to bring the infant’s attention in line with theirs. And Baby’s vision is almost as sophisticated as an adult’s by six months, but in the earliest months, they really are more interested in and engaged with books that have higher-contrast images in them. So, board books with high-contrast images are definitely a great way to start. And of course, even after they can see a full range of color and discern all of the visual things that we can, it doesn’t hurt (if they’re interested) to still share those kinds of books with kids.

Literati:

That’s great. Our younger book clubs spotlight books with high-contrast images and tactile elements. Can you explain why those features encourage literacy development in babies and toddlers?

Maya:

It’s really important for kids’ literacy development that they get interested in and familiar with handling and looking at books. When they’re five months old, they’re grabbing the books just kind of with their hands and not using their thumbs yet. But by seven months, they’ll start to grab the book with their fingers on one side and thumb on the other, and pretty soon they’re able to grasp small objects. But books that give them different textures to feel, and sort of that sensory experience of engagement with the book, just keeps their interest. So, those are wonderful ways to engage. It’s all about attention with the little ones.

Literati:

Got it. And we know it’s important to engage really young babies and toddlers by making sounds in the books and pointing out objects, colors, and numbers. Can you explain why this encourages reading development, as well as anything else parents can do with their babies and toddlers while they’re reading together?

Maya:

Pointing is great. Again, it just sort of brings the child’s attention in line with yours. So little ones, when you’re reading from the book, they don’t necessarily make the connection between the words that you’re speaking and the print that’s on the page and that understanding emerges over time.

You can point to the beach ball on the page in a book and say “beach ball.” If it’s the kind of book where it’s labeling individual objects, it introduces that vocabulary. It gives them the experience of hearing what you’re saying and connecting it with an image.

Pointing to books also gives kids important insight into how books work. So if you move your finger from left to right as you’re reading text across the page, over time, they’ll come to understand that text is read from left to right or from the top of the page to the bottom of the page.

There are so many little literacy lessons that parents can teach using books. And as adult fluent readers, we forget that kids have to learn all of those things. They have to learn that the words on the page are connected to the sounds and words that they hear in our speech. They have to learn that text has a direction, and so forth.

Literati:

So, for example, if you’re reading about animals and there is a lion, the parent should point at the lion so their very young baby or child can start to associate the word “lion” with that visual cue?

Maya:

Yes. Some board books will have just a few words, or in some cases, just one word per page. So, it’s not necessarily that the 3-month-old is going to make that connection, but it’s that the parent builds the habit of labeling and pointing so that as that awareness emerges over time, the parent is in the habit of doing those things. We have research that gives us some insight into when kids can recognize certain things, but each child is unique and the way that they learn is through experience and exposure. So, if you start things earlier, you’re laying the groundwork for it.

I think it’s really important for parents to understand that they really are their child’s first teacher, and that there are so many lessons that can be facilitated through books. Anytime you’re reading words on the page, you’re introducing your child to vocabulary words that they’ll one day recognize in print. And so you’re helping them build word banks.

You’re also giving them knowledge about the world when you introduce them to books that include objects from their everyday environment—but also experiences, stories, and things that are happening in other parts of the world, and beyond their world as babies and toddlers.

When you open up a book, you’re just building their familiarity with books and you’re increasing their experiences and exposure to print and letters. And you’re also giving them really important exposure to the sounds of our language, because it will become very important for them to be able to distinguish sounds within words.

The fact that “cat” has three sounds, for example, “c” “a,” and “t,” those are skills that are built when we do nursery rhymes and word play and all these kinds of things. And when we choose books that have those elements, it’s really helpful for us as parents who teach.

Explore Literati Book Clubs for babies and toddlers with our Dreamer, Seeker, Stargazer, and Discoverer book boxes!

We curate book boxes specifically for your child’s reading level and interests, then help them to grow as a reader.

The post Why it’s Vital to Read Aloud to Babies appeared first on Literati.

Expert Advice: Helping Your Child Learn to Read Aloud

Charlie DeTar — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:12:58 +0000

If your child is learning to read, there are some easy ways you can help to bolster their skills and development right at home.

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Robin Newman

Erin Bailey, director of programs and content at Reading Is Fundamental, shared with us her advice for parents helping their children learn to read aloud.

Literati:

From ages 3 to 5, spanning Preschool to Kindergarten or 1st grade, learning to read aloud and instilling confidence in kids is really important. For parents who want to be as supportive as possible for their growing readers, what are some of the best ways they can help to encourage little ones who are just starting to read?

Erin Bailey:

So this is a really important topic. And reading aloud is an important skill in schools. We often refer to reading aloud as “fluency,” which generally refers to reading at the appropriate pace—not too fast, not too slow, just your regular talking voice and having accuracy with the words that you’re reading. Like making sure that you’re pronouncing the words correctly and using the appropriate expression that matches the tone of the writing. So those three things—rate, accuracy, and expression—compose fluency, which we often think of when we think of reading aloud. While this tends to be something that’s focused on in early childhood education and mostly reinforced with younger children, there are actually standards for fluency going all the way up to 5th Grade.

So I would highly encourage all parents to read aloud with their kids, regardless of their age. But with younger children, the most important place where families can start is by modeling good fluency by reading aloud to your children as often as you can. This helps kids hear what a fluent reader should sound like, so they can start to self-monitor when they’re reading to see if their voice is fluent.

When you read, you can also demonstrate for your child how to change the expression in your voice to match what the characters are saying and how they’re feeling in different scenes throughout the story.

The other thing I would recommend is re-reading. Sometimes, families think that children should read new books every time, but re-reading the same book is a great way to improve fluency, and children can even start to think about how their fluency has improved as they’ve read the same book over and over again.

Literati:

Are there any things that parents should avoid doing while helping their child to become a confident reader?

Erin Bailey:

Yes. I would avoid over-correcting your child by saying the word correctly for them. When they make a mistake, the better thing to do is to coach them around how to decode that unknown word and offer strategies for them. This could include asking them what letters they see in the words and what sounds go with those letters. They can even break up the word into smaller chunks.

So for example, if I saw the word “sprout,”and maybe the child can’t read “sprout” yet, I could ask, “do you see a smaller word in that word?” And maybe the child knows how to read the word “out.” That can help in decoding those longer words. This is usually called “chunking.”

Additionally, if a child reads a word incorrectly, rather than immediately correcting them, families should think about asking the child if that word made sense in the sentence that they just read. And this also goes back to the tip about re-reading. Once you’ve decoded a word, it’s usually a good idea to go back and re-read the sentence. That way it sounds smoother.

Literati:

Something we’re really focused on is making sure we’re matching the right book to the right kid, and helping parents navigate their child’s own reading level—because it’s not always aligned with their age or their grade level. What are some indicators that a book is too challenging for your child?

Erin Bailey:

Generally, as a rule of thumb, children who are reading books independently on their own should be able to read all the words in the book with about 95% accuracy or greater.

Now, of course, when they’re reading aloud, you may not be there marking down words to be able to know whether it’s 95% accurate or or greater. But there are some things that you can look out for. If the child’s voice is staccato when they’re reading—if they are reading it word by word versus smooth sentences—or if they’re spending too much time on a page or misreading a lot of words, that all could be because they’re spending so much time focusing on decoding the words, so their voice isn’t sounding as smooth when they’re reading. They’re taking too much of their time and brain power and energy just to figure out what each individual word is.

Additionally, we talked about how pace is an important part of reading fluency. So if your child is reading too slowly and it’s not at a speaking pace, then they’re spending too much time on decoding those individual words. This may be an indicator that the book is too challenging for them.

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