Reading Interactively With Your Child by Isolating Specific Words in the Story

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Labyrinth_front coverWe have suggested ways for you to read interactively with your child: Here are a few more ideas.  Have you ever noticed when reading a Lima Bear Story, like The Labyrinth, that certain words are written in a different way from the rest of the words? The reason for this is to draw attention to the word, usually a more challenging word, so that the child will notice it and ask about it.  You can use these special words as an opportunity to “extend the learning.”

**First read the book all the way through with your child

**Go through the book again but this time, have your child point out the words that different from the rest.

**Ask your child to identify how the word is different:

**Is the word bigger or smaller?

**Is it a different color?

**Ask your child to guess why she thinks the word is different

** Have your child say the special words in the story in the way he thinks the author intended for them to be read.

**Talk about how the words could be said differently to express different emotions

**Ask your child to try come up with different word that could be used that would have a similar meaning

In The Labyrinth, some of the special words are “cheered,” “twists and turns,” and “glowed.” You can see what we mean by “special words” from this small sample. They are bit more descriptive, a bit more challenging, a bit more cool.  Please share any ways that you have discovered to “extend the learning” as you read interactively with your child!

 

 

 

Reading to Your Child Is Fantastic But Do You Know Why?

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Tom&GranddaughterOnLapWhy Reading Your Child Is a Good Thing to Do

We know that you intuitively know that reading to your child is a good thing. Here at Lima Bear Press we love to share ideas for HOW to read interactively with your child, thereby increasing the learning.  But do you know the reasons WHY reading aloud to your child is so important?  The United Through Reading organization outlines a few of the many benefits of reading aloud to your child.

UnitedThroughReading.org tells us that:

Reading aloud with children is a powerful educational tool which:

  • Nurtures the self-esteem of children
  • Instills the joy of reading at an early age
  • Strengthens the bond children need with their families while preparing them for academic success
  • Plus, research shows that reading aloud to children appears to be the single most important activity for building earliest emergent reading skills

Page4_Cave MonsterA Child’s Self-esteem Can be Increased When a Parent Reads Aloud to Him/Her

We know that YOU did not need a reason to read with your child but it nice to know the wonderful benefits that can result when you do. One of the most intriguing benefits to reading aloud to your child is the building of self-esteem.  It makes sense, though, that a child’s self-esteem can be increased when a parent reads a loud to him.  Think about it for a second.  Not only is the child learning vocabulary and language skills, he is also recognizing that time spent with him is time well spent.  How powerful is that? She learns about behaviors and how to respond to situations which can be a huge ego boost to a youngster in social situations.  He is armed with new skills that he can pull out and use at will. Can you think of more way a child’s self-esteem may be increased?

Children Can Learn More Through Reading Than You May Think

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Lima Bear_sleeping plus logo_copyLearning While Reading Is Easy Once You Get Started

The key to learning while reading is to include your child in the reading process.  You are not simply reading to your child, you are reading with your child.  Enjoy watching your child’s excitement as he/she figures out the answers to your questions.  For example, after reading the whole book through one time, go back a re-read the book, asking your child to reason out how a picture on the page relates to the story.  On the very first page of  How Back-Back Got His Name, Lima Bear is shown asleep with a candle next to his bed.  The wax has dripped down the sides of his end table (a thimble – too cute, I know). You could ask your child, “why do you think the candle wax is drooping?” Could it be that before it was blown out that it was burning for a long time?

Additional Activities Stem From the Questions that Pop Up While You Read 

While you are talking about candles, why not create a little project where you both research how the first candles were made. You could try to make your own candle or visit a candle making shop.  See how easy it is? We’ve read just one page of one book and we’ve come up with several great questions and activities already!  You can do it too!

Lima Bear Resources to Keep the Learning Going

“Extend the learning” pages, found in the back of each Lima Bear Book, are available to give you a jump start! Interactive reading ideas are also for you in the back of each book.  With a little practice, you and your child will be coming up with your own great ideas for additional learning.  Feel free to share your own tricks to help your child learn as he reads.

 

Read Interactively With Your Child | Take Reading to the Next Level

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Reading to Your Child Interactively

Page4_Cave MonsterReading a book to your child is a great way to help your child to learn. Sometimes, though, simply reading the words on the page may not be stimulating enough for your little one. Sometimes your child might be perfectly content to sit and listen but on other days, he may not be able to keep one foot still! Do not fret. Your child can still learn and keep his energy at a high level, too.

The trick is to read to your child interactively.

How to Begin Reading to Your Child interactively 

Start by going with the old standby. Find a cozy corner, grab a blanket and start to read. Once the story has begun to unfold, come up with some questions before moving to the next page. Use questions that will encourage interaction. For example:

Point to some of the pictures on the page and see if your child can describe what the illustrations are. In How Back-Back Got His Name, for example, the 1st page has some terrific illustrations. You could ask, “Why do YOU think the dime in the picture is so big?” If stumped, you could point out to your child that maybe the dime is so big because Lima Bear is so small?

Are you getting a sense for how easy reading interactively can be?

Lima Bear Resources to Keep the Learning Going

If you are ever stuck, remember that in The Lima Bear Series, interactive reading ideas have been provided for you in the back of each book to get you started.  “Extend the learning” pages ideas are available to give you a jump start!

We will have more ideas for you as well in the next post.  Please share any interactive ideas that have worked for you and your child as well.