Reading provides many skill in general. Reading with your kids provide many great benefits for both your child and you. It's great for bonding, creating routines for bed, and promoting reading and literacy in general. When you read with your kids, though, there are other ways to gain even more benefits after that final page is turned. Here are just a few tips and tricks for after and their benefits.
1. Ask your child what happened in the books they read
This is a great way to still participate in your child's reading even when they are reading by themselves or reading with others. Showing an interest in what they read shows the value and importance you put in their reading and literacy and encourages their own interest. This also provides a similar benefit in bonding. And, it reinforces comprehension, strengthens their memory, and helps refine skills like summarizing.
2. Ask and discuss a character's motivation
Conversations about reading, even when away from the book, again strengthens memory. Asking about motivation, also allows for reinforcing and challenging skills like comprehension. Motivation allows the conversation to take a less black and white direction. There's no right or wrong answer, which allows for the conversation to become more in depth. It also allows for fostering a child's ability to empathize and apply the social cues they are learning on a daily basis. A child might bring up emotion as a motivation, which then can turn into what made them think the character was feeling that way, for example. The adult can then also help them connect the stories to themselves and provide daily vocabulary for when they feel that way later. InThe Butter Thief, a reader might say the mother seemed angry because she yelled. An adult might build on that by saying something along the lines as "It must have been very frustrating that all the butter kept getting ruined."
3. Apply aspects of the book to everyday scenarios
First, how does one do this? Take a book likeBen's Little Tomato. After reading the book, go to the grocery store or the Farmer's Market and ask your child which tomato they think was Ben's Little Tomato and why. Play detective and utilize the five senses to try to figure it out. (I.e. These three are small tomatoes, all about the same size. These two of the three are both red. This one has the best taste.) Second, why do this? It provides concrete example of the book's concepts and stories, and connects them to the real-world. It reinforces the importance and relevance of reading and books, while cementing the concepts the book discusses in the child's mind. It helps with memory, and using all the sense. Plus, it makes both the reading and concepts hands on and fun, which in turn will reinforce that reading is fun.
Other great topics for conversation to have away from the book, especially for longer chapter books, include:
* Predictions and what they think might happen next and why. * Did they feel the book had a satisfying resolution? * If they were in the character's shoes what would they do and why? Do they think that character would act in a similar way? What do you discuss with your kids when reading?
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As many of my readers know, The Butter Thief explores the origins of the word "butterfly" in a fun and imaginative narrative. One of the theories that inspired aspects of the book, and continues to inspire aspects of the series, is the part fairies play. It was believed that fairies and witches would turn into butterflies to steal the family's butter. One element of that theory appears to be missing on the surface of the overall story. But, is it really left out? Upon closer observation, this is not the case. Readers might recall the purple fairy door that Brigid receives as a gift and in turn gives to the brimstone fairy. What does a purple door have to do with anything, one might ask. Purple doors are often a sign of a witch. Before people start conjuring up images of a green-face, wart-nose, evil devil worshiper, let me set the record straight. Fairies and witches are actually very closely related. They way they respect, nurture, and connect with nature is very similar. Often witches are individuals who recognize, harness, and utilizes their inner-most magic and intentions. Like a fairy, they refuse to be ignored, forgotten, or used. Both work in balance. It cannot be all take. Offerings need to be made. If the brimstone butterfly fairy more than just a fairy? You, as the reader, can decide. Just know, as the author, the witch part of the theory was not forgotten. Also, The Butter Thief fairy doors will be available soon for your own garden! |
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November 2023
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Ellie Lieberman |