One of my most vivid memories as a child was my parents reading to me before bedtime. I liked this time because it gave me something to look foward to and I got to spend time with my parents. By having my parent read to me it allowed me to be more imaginative and made me explore more books. The books I ranged were from the human body to How the Grinch Stole Christmas; but perhaps my favorite was I Love You Stinky Face. This book my mom used to read to me and eventhough it sounded funny and absurd it reassured me that my mom would love me no matter what because as a child that is a concer. I think intergrating reading and storytime into schooling is a necessary part of education.
I agree that reading is a helpful tool to use in the classroom. Meirer states that by having storytime helps children work on many different skills necessary for later years of schooling and life. Some of these skills are listening, using their imaginations, remembering questions, and raising their hands. It shocked me when Meirer says that kids from different backgrounds understand stories and questions differently. I thought it was quite amuzing when the little Spanish girl says "why cant she remember that". Using this I could completly picture. I also found it interesting that the teacher would not think girl to be smart; instead, she might think she needs extra help when in fact she is actually smart and pointing out the obvious. I also agree with Meirer saying books need to be able to relate to the children because if not then they will not be interested; I remember it being the worst when a book was boring. I also thought it was a good idea to make books come alive with props and using different voices because after all most children are very visual. Another thing I think could be done would be to have a different child read to the class every week taking turns; this way, it works on their reading skills as well as class interaction.
In reading this article it brought back memories of when I was in Kindergarten and we had reading buddies. Reading buddies was when a fifth grade class would come down to the Kindergarten and be paired up to read with a child. This was my favorite part of Kindergarten and I always looked foward to hearing my buddy read. It was a good way to interact with the older kids as well as work on my skills. It also worked both ways because when I was in fifth grade I was so excited for it to be my turn to read to the kindergarten. Nothing made me happier to see their smiling faces when it came time to read. I think reading should always be a necessary part in the classroom.
Wow, aftering reading your blog memories flashed back. I remember how I used to do reading buddies also with a fifth grade class. I work with kids and I can see the kindergarten class and they are all interested in reading. But what they love the most is when they are read to or when we pull out the books on tape for them to listen to.
ReplyDeleteNo child finds any interest in a boring book. Whenever I find that a book is boring the child that I am reading to will lost interest and not pay attention. In the end no one benefits. The child is not listenig and thus not learning. And I am just wasting my breath because I can not benefit him or her if she is not listening.
I remember doing reading buddies in school. I remember having the older kids read to us then when we grew older i remember reading to the little kids. Also, I remember my mom and dad reading to me every night. They would read one nursery rhyme. I believe that if the child really likes the book they will want to focus on it instead of not paying attention and looking around. I also found out by reading to my little cousin that it helps if you use props to tell the story. When you make the story come alive it makes the child want to learn.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading buddies! But they took it away my 5th grade year so I never got to be a buddy. But i agree with your point when you said the children have to be interested in a book in order to keep their attention. I can remember this year, my coach picked me and another girl from my basketball team and then two of the mens basketball players to go read to children in a Pawtucket elementary school for an hour or so and the book I read to a second grade class was terrible. It was an ESL book and first of all, me trying to pronounce some of the words in there was the most entertaining part of the book. Second, I couldn't even tell you what the book was about! I think most of the children were just staring at me and the mens basketball player the entire time. But anyways, I totally agree with almost every point you make here. Just thought I'd share a story.
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