McGraw-Hill Education Summer Reading Tips
When my boys were growing up, books were both a treat and something they looked forward to. As I nursed them I read aloud from a book and later, when they were able to hold a book on their own ,we filled their room with infant and toddler books with great graphics and colors. Books became prizes, gifts, and treats from the checkout counter. We purchase oodles of books from the Scholastic Book Fairs at school as well as for their classroom teachers.
It’s no wonder that now that both boys are in their twenties that books still play an important part in their lives. One reads mostly science fiction, the other more politically leaning and humanistic. I’m a firm believer that both boys did better in school, had better vocabularies, and were better students because we instilled the importance of reading very early on.
Summer was a time we could spend even more time exploring books. Trips to the cool library on hot summer days were something we loved. Sometimes the adventure was going to the library, other days it was the beginning of an adventure spurred by a book found and read on site. Phases of dinosaurs, space, pirates and more have been replaced with books on cooking and travel and more grown up versions of Harry Potter.
Charlene Cobb, Ed. D. shares her reading tips for getting your child to love the world of reading. Check them out and then enter below to win a set of summer reading books from McGraw-Hill Education. I’ve worked in education for over six years and the Wright Group/McGraw-Hill’s books are among the finest.
Reading Tips (from Wright Group/McGraw-Hill’s “Early Reading Intervention” Author Charlene Cobb, Ed.D.) - reprinted with permission from McGraw-Hill
- Create a summer escape in your home perfect for reading. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating to entice your kids to spend time there.
- Even if your children can read by themselves, take turns reading to each other. This helps build their skills as they listen to your tone and inflection throughout the story or article. Before, during and after you read, talk about the material. Ask you child questions and encourage you child to ask you questions.
- Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading themselves, plan an event or activity that ties to the reading material. For instance, book reading can lead to picnics, museum and zoo visits, ballgames, or even family vacations.
- Look for opportunities for your child to read. If you have a manual for a new DVD player, ask your child to read you the directions. Grocery lists and “to do” lists are also good items to help kids practice reading in “real life.”
- Share the reading experience with your child by reading the same book or material they are reading so you can discuss it.
- Even if you are not reading the same books as your children, talk to them 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 can help increase their interest.
- If your children’s school program provides materials for home activities, absolutely use them.
- Suggest your child read a popular series that has been turned into movies like the Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia books. When your child finishes reading the book, rent or go see the movie and discuss how each differed from the other and whether the book or movie was more enjoyable.
- Look for materials beyond fiction. Kids often prefer to read about facts, including books and articles about the environment, animals, current events, sports, and other factual topics. Talk to them about what they like and help them find reading materials that match those interests.
- Try to set aside at least one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Make your family’s favorite snacks, get new books at the library and make it fun!
ENTER TO WIN! WINNER CHOSEN
We’re giving away two sets – one here and one on our sister-site Miscellaneous Finds 4u. The winner will receive a series of 3 readers from the McGraw-Hill Education reading program (age specific, depending on winner). To enter, post your reading tip below. Regular contest rules apply. Sorry, US Only. Contest ends June 21, 2009, 8pm PT. You may enter as often as you like (a unique tip for each entry is required) and you may enter on both sites.
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Tags: Chronicle of Narnia, English, Harry Potter, Kids and Teens, Literature, Read Across America, Science fiction
June 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
[...] giving away two sets – one here and one on our sister-site Princess Time Toys. The winner will receive a series of 3 readers from the McGraw-Hill Education reading program (age [...]
June 13th, 2009 at 3:58 am
show by example- which means- let the kids see you read too and not complain…sit down and read to eachother and together
June 13th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Take your book in your car, as a passenger it helps to pass the time when traffic is slow or when traveling on road trips.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:15 am
When I was a child, my older sisers would read to me from chapter books that were a bit beyond my level–I remember getting a chapter a night of Charlotte’s Web when I was 5 or 6. You don’t have to wait until they are “old enough” to read a favorite book to them–try a chapter a night.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:16 am
In addition to (or instead of) a “family movie night,” try a “family book night” when members of the family take turns reading out of a favorite book–maybe a chapter a week.
Andi´s last blog ..Pondering the Unique–to OOAK or not to OOAK?
June 13th, 2009 at 5:17 am
And perhaps most importantly, have books visible in the house! Let kids see you reading! That probably had the most influence on my mind-set as a child–I grew up knowing books were important things, because I was surrounded by them like air.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Read to your children every day. Promotes not only a love of reading but a bond that lasts a lifetime.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I think it is important to set aside a specific time during the day to read together as a family. My daughter really enjoys “quiet time”. Thanks so much!
June 13th, 2009 at 9:03 am
read in a comfortable chair and just relax and read mverno@roadrunner.com
June 13th, 2009 at 9:21 am
The children should enjoy this.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Read with your children…
June 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Pick something your child is passionate about. Horses? Check out Black Beauty. Dragons? Try Eragon. They will learn to love reading buy loving what they read!
Abby´s last blog ..Freebies for the week
June 13th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
My daughter seemed to be skipping words when reading (not sure if its eyesight or reading too fast) but I bought a plastic finger with a red nail on it (I think it was from Halloween) but it has helped her to point to the words as she reads them and she finds it fun. Maybe it would help someone else.
June 13th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Get books you loved as a kid and then your kids will be interesting in reading them.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Make reading fun by having the children act out parts of the story.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Make reading a part of your everyday life.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:11 am
we’ve started rewarding them with coupons for treats at restaraunts after each book.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:29 am
We keep reading books in the car for the kids to read when we are traveling.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Schedule a regular weekly library visit and allow children to choose their own books to read. Thanks!
June 14th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Count me in
June 14th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Would love these for the Grandkids.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:08 am
My grandkids would love these
June 14th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
* Grandkida all of whom like books- great addition for me.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I’m going to actually leave a reading tip!
My best advice is to read to the kids every day no matter what, even if it’s just a short book at bedtime.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
June 14th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
My daughter would love this.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
We try to find books that Gracie will like. She loves animals so we have lots of animal books. Thanks!
Sonya Sparks´s last blog ..Search and Win
June 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am
sign me up
June 15th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
sounds good to me!
June 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
love to read
June 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
We keep a log of my daughter’s reading, including title, author, and favorite part. At certain milestones, she can go to the bookstore to buy whatever she wants. She loves going over them all and seeing how far she’s come, too.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
thanks
June 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
We bought a special ‘wallet’ to keep my daughter’s library card in. She is responsible for carrying it to the library and gets to date stamp her own books. She treasures books and loves to read, and when she really loves a particular book, we buy her a copy to keep forever. Write inside a book when you bought it and why your child loves it – that will become their favorite part to read!
June 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
My kids earn video game time by reading.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I encourage the kids to sign up for the summer reading programs and then we read (as we do year round) each evening — each kid picks a book and I pick one also and we all read together.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I would like to win this!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I get my granddaughter to read to me, she likes to do that
June 17th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Read so that your kiddos see you do it and want to emulate it.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Get your children their own library cards as soon as they can write their own names. Make going to the library a weekly family ritual! We all go and pick out our own books and then sit down at home with our new books and I love the concentration and silence!
June 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I would love to win. We like to read at night before bedtime to calm the kids down and just have fun together.
Thank you for the chance
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
June 18th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I make sure that they have plenty of new reading material. To do that on the cheap we go to the library, shop clearance, go to yard sales and thrift stores.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Create a fun readng area for kids to read in.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
When I tuck my 7 yr. old son into bed and try to read to him, alot of the time he falls asleep right away. I started reading to him while he was in the bathtub and it works because he will really pay attention, then we wrap up in a towel and sit on my bed and read more. Doing it this way really works for me.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I like to buy books for kids about the things they are interested in. They are more apt to read if it’s about something they like. Know a kid who likes bugs? Buy him a book about insects.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
My daughter is just learning to read but I’m always with a book, I think just seeing that makes her want to learn even faster – she wants to read to me!
June 20th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
sounds fantastic
June 20th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Make an hour a day(after lunch woks great) quiet time.Older kids get a quiet time to read while younger ones get nap time.Thanks!
June 20th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
We visit the library twice a week!
June 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Always keep a couple books in the car for when the kids may get bored on a road trip.
June 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
My tip is to start your children early. Make going to the library an adventure. Make reading time a time to snuggle and enjoy reading. Make buying books seem like a treat (which of course they are!!!) Thanks.
June 20th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Use fun voices when you read. Act out parts and encourage the kids too also. Make reading interactive.
June 20th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Take the children to the library often and let them select books they would like to read
June 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
We love taking library trips.
During the summer, they have programs for the little ones, featuring a book each time.
Its alot of fun.
June 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
We have a chart and as my daughter reads a book she gets a star once the chart is filled she gets a surprise.
June 21st, 2009 at 4:30 am
Count me in again – 6/21/09
ktgonyea at gmail.com
June 21st, 2009 at 5:06 am
My tip would be to find a quiet place without any distractions and reading and open your mind.
June 21st, 2009 at 8:06 am
We have always read to our girls at least 30 min. per day everyday and they are accelerated readers at school reading well above their grade level.
June 21st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Would be great to give my grand niece and nephew as gifts.
June 21st, 2009 at 8:32 am
not really a tip,but I read to my little guys everynight
ahdrad2932(at)msn(dot)com
June 21st, 2009 at 8:53 am
Our kids get a reward for every book they complete and that they can tell me about
June 21st, 2009 at 10:19 am
I read when I am in waiting rooms, or waiting for someone.
June 21st, 2009 at 10:52 am
I read to my kids every night
June 21st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
i try to have my son read for at least half an hour before any videogames or playtime
June 21st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I read with my niece 20 minutes each day.
June 21st, 2009 at 12:48 pm
********************Winning Entry!*****************
Try creating a special summer sneaky-secret-hide-away summer reading nook outside! Drape some breezy fabric over a tree branch or picnic table, add a few perks (flashlight, cushions, something cool to drink) and of course a few books. . .
It can all be moved to the dining room in case of rain. . .
June 21st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Start a book club with your kids and after all of you read the same book, play a game with questions and answers and give small prizes.
June 21st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
My tip is to read together every day before bed time
June 21st, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I take my kids to the library once a week so they can pick out their own books to read.
June 21st, 2009 at 4:49 pm
The kids would love these.
June 21st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
perfect gift to the grandtwins in october upon their birthday; even better to have when visiting the grandparents; many thanks SW
June 21st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
TURN OFF ALL DISTRACTIONS BEFORE READIN: TV’S & PHONES ALL OFF!
June 21st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
8 grandchildren- 6 who are now in school and all of them love books
June 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
My reading tip is to bring a book with me wherever I go.