The beginning of the school year is an ideal time to make a reading routine happen in your home!
Here are 3 tips you may want to consider:
1. When is the ideal time to read? It doesn't matter if it's morning, right after after school, before/after dinner or before bed; it is helpful, however, to find the same time of day to do it, which is true of any routine. If you don't already have a consistent time established, take a moment to reflect on when would be ideal time when you are feeling the most fresh and the least rushed.
Bonus tip: You may want to set a phone alarm with a reminder, titling it "I Heart Reading!"
2. Where do the books live? Are they scattered around or do they have a home? If' it's the latter, it can be fun to create a special area to keep books. This could look like: a designated bookshelf, a special box that goes under their bed, a table, or a corner in the house.
Bonus tip: Consider making the area extra cozy with stuffed animals, good lightening, artwork, or a beanbag.
3. When was the last time you went to the library? Making the local library part of your routine can be fun as well! While reading at home should be done daily, the library can be a weekly, biweekly, or monthly adventure to consider. This will allow you to have a myriad of new books, magazines, and ideas!
Bonus tip: Librarians love having kiddos come visit! If you are local, go visit Oakland's main branch and tell Librarian Pat that Ms. Heather sent ya!
Wishing you success in setting up your reading routine!
♥︎
Ms. Heather
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Ms. Heather is the daughter of two life-long teachers. She started her career in education upon graduating from college in 1997 in San Francisco. After being a Kinder and 1st grade teacher and a Director of Education, she got certified in Reading Recovery through Saint Mary's College. She has been working as a Literacy Specialist since 2010, focusing on students reading and writing below grade level expectations. She looks at what they know and builds up this knowing with confidence, while strategically adding in new things to learn. She adores helping kiddos become problem solvers and meaning makers in the process of learning to read and write!