The Book Whisperer

Donalyn,

I was at your seminar at Whitney Young H.S. in Chicago. Your presentation was excellent and inspirational. Thank-you. I am a parent, not a professional educator. I want to incorporate reading into daily activities like meal time and play time. Any suggestions?

Connie

Connie,

Many of the ideas I suggest to teachers for motivating their students to read, parents can apply at home:

Set aside time for daily reading (we turn off the TV and read our own books)
Provide access to a wide array of reading material (trips to the library, books as gifts)
Encourage children to choose their own books (befriend a school or public librarian!)
Offer a strong reading role model (read yourself and share what you enjoy about reading)
Read aloud to children no matter how old they are (shared literacy experiences create community)