Growing Readers

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

“Today a reader; tomorrow a leader.” – Margaret Fuller

“A home without books is a body without soul.” - Cicero

I’m going to let you in on a secret, if you promise not to tell anyone: Readers are made at home, not at school.

When I was 12 or 13 years old, I pulled an interesting-looking book down from my parents’ bookshelf. It was a collection of Mark Twain’s short stories and I read several with great interest and delight. Because my parents had a complete set of Mark Twain’s works, I was able to follow this reading with Tom Sawyer and then Huck Finn and, before long, I had read the complete set. I was in the cave with Tom and Becky, wondering if they would get out alive. I was floating down the Mississippi with Huck and Jim, wondering how Huck would make it back home and if Jim would make it to freedom.

How many books do you have in your home? How many bookshelves full of a variety of age-appropriate and engaging books do you have? Did you know that the number one factor that determines if a child will grow up to be a reader or not is the number of books in his or her home? I think the reason is simple: People who love books have lots of them in their home. If we love something, our children will see that love and will likely catch it for themselves, especially if ample opportunity is given to them.

Good books are not hard to find and they do not need to cost a lot of money, either. You can shop library sales, yard sales, thrift stores, etc. and pick up some really great books for very little money. Of course you need to be discerning, but you could very quickly build a pretty good home library inexpensively. Few investments you make will bring better returns.

What else can you do at home to help your children develop into readers? Here are some suggestions for children of various ages:

1. Read aloud to your kids. You may feel awkward or uncomfortable with this at first, but it will become more natural and more enriching as time goes on. This is not just a suggestion for parents of very young children either. All children benefit from hearing good stories read aloud to them.

2. Read books together as a family. If you have older children, select a book that everyone in your family will read together. Keep on the same pace and discuss the book together regularly.

3. Read for your own personal enrichment. The more your kids see you reading, the more they will be motivated to want to read.

4. Unplug. Many children today do the majority of their reading online. The kind of reading they are choosing for themselves online is not only very simplistic, but often it is of the poorest quality. The computer and the television both compete with and undermine strong reading habits. Set boundaries and stick to the limits you have set.

5. Buy books for your children. This may sound obvious, but make sure books are a regular part of Christmas and birthday presents for your children.

The best educated people in the world are those who read on their own regularly for their own enrichment and pleasure. These people are the leaders and influencers of our world. Because they have read richly and deeply and widely, they have something to say to the world and they know how to say it well, too. Isn’t that a goal worth striving for in the lives of your children?

Comments

[Kristine McGuire]

I had the great privilege of teaching both my children to read. In my family we've always placed great emphasis on the importance of reading and because we also did every one of the suggestions you mentioned both of my children are avid readers far above their age level. Great blog and recommendations!

[MAD21]

Thanks Kristine. Reading is really important in our house, too. My girls LOVE books. I am so glad. I think it's something that will stick with them for their life time and will help them in so many ways.

[Jason]

Kristine,

Thanks for the positive feedback. It is so refreshing to see children who grow up to love books. Readers are leaders!