# data[].attributes.body
Thank you for participating in the Parent Book Club. I hope that by participating whether silently or with responses, you found encouragement to Read-Aloud with your children no matter what age or stage you begin. As a parent you are your child’s first teacher. I hope together we can foster your child’s love for books. There is no better time to begin to read together then now, so go ahead DEAR. “Drop Everything and Read!”

Mrs. Whitney

# data[].attributes.headline
Chapter 10: A Hyper Kid’s Road to Reading

# data[].attributes.subject
Chapter 10: A Hyper Kid’s Road to Reading

# data[].attributes.body
A child’s “route to reading” is never a “solo journey.” (172). The autohor shared his journey as a budding reader. Who inspired you, taught you, or encouraged you to read?

# data[].attributes.body
This chapter is for reluctant boy readers and how Dad’s can change that. Page 161 points out that in all education levels fathers only read to their children 15% of the time as compared to 76% of the time with mothers. How is dad invloved in reading in your home? If they are not the author suggests getting dad to at least read this chapter to help get them on board.

# data[].attributes.body
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a limit of 10 television hours per week is recommended for young children (page 148). Do you have a television “diet” in your home? What are your restrictions or plan for limiting the amount to television or internet based shows your child watches?

# data[].attributes.body
Is digital learning dumbing down our kids? I came across an article addressing this issue: https://cna.asia/2AH8yDk    Although I would not recommend e-reading for daily use with young children, there are great apps out there to help reinforce letter knowledge and pre-writing skills. The bennift of reading together goes beyond the text. When children hear a story read aloud on a table they they cannot have their questionable answered or misconceptions clarified. They cannot respond to questions or relate information about past experiences. In short they are not engaging in social language which helps to build the intrisinc reward of reading.  Furthermore when a child is read to by an e-reader they are not engaging in putting sounds together, decoding unfamiliar words, or committing new words to memory. In short children are not using higher order thinking skills. Other then e-reader type sites/apps, what are some interactive learning sites/apps that you would recommend and why?

# data[].attributes.headline
Just for fun: What book are you reading now? (Beside the Read-Aloud Handbook)

# data[].attributes.subject
Just for fun: What book are you reading now? (Beside the Read-Aloud Handbook)

# data[].attributes.body
This chapter discusses the ever changing climate of home, school, and library print environments. As we have progressed into the digital age, society has begun to make books, newspaper, and magazines in hand a thing of the past. It was alarming to me that Cushing Academy in Ashburnham sold off at least 80% of it’s books and converted the library to a digital collaboration work space. It brings to light a question: at what age are digital books appropriate for children? What role does digital media have in your home? Do you have a home library or space for books?

# data[].attributes.body
Page 101 List the percentages of adult readers as 25% newspaper once week, 75% “light” book readers- one to two per year, and 25% “heavy” readers- three to four books per month. Where do you fall? What reading difficulties do you face (page 85)? Do you have a set SSR time in your home? How do you think you could implement SSR time with your kids? For me I fall in the 75% range. I could easily blame lack of time, but in reality distractions are my biggest hurtle. I encourage my kids to read to themselves before we read aloud together, but I never thought to stop what I am doing to read alongside them. In the classroom SSR is encouraged daily after lunch and after checking new books out from the media center. Again at this time I typically get ready to transition to the next activity, but I am going to get right down with them and read as well.

# data[].attributes.headline
Chapter 4: The Dos am day Don’ts of Read-Aloud

# data[].attributes.subject
Chapter 4: The Dos am day Don’ts of Read-Aloud

# data[].attributes.body
This one is a quick read full of the do’s and don’ts of reading aloud. If you are struggling to engage your little ones I recommend reading the do’s list. One idea that I loved was posting stickers on a world map for the places you are reading about. Kids just love stickers and what a great way to make them purposeful. What are some ways that you encourage and engage your children in reading?

# data[].attributes.body
"the more you read to them, the less trouble they have constructing mental images. Indeed, research shows us that listening to stories stimulates mental images. Indeed, research shows us that listening to stories stimulates the imagination significantly more than television or film" (page 64) One way the brain develops language is by visualized and verbalizing what you want to communicate. Some children have difficulty expressing themselves because they are not yet able to create mental images in their brain (visualizing what you want to verbalize). Reading aloud reverses this order by making the brain visualize what is being verbalized. Through out chapter two and three the author discusses the difference between being read to and being able to read. Developing a child's mental imagery whether it be pictures or text, you are setting them up success when they actually do learn to read. A big question in chapter 3 is when to begin reading chapter books and when to stop reading picture books? The answer, that you are never to old to enjoy a picture book and never too young he listen to chapter books. Have you introduced chapter books to your preschoolers? If so what are some that you enjoy together that you may recommend to other families?

# data[].attributes.headline
Chapter Two: When to Begin (and End) Read-Aloud

# data[].attributes.subject
Chapter Two: When to Begin (and End) Read-Aloud

# data[].attributes.body
My favorite baby book was Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.  I got this as a baby shower gift for my oldest daughter. I read it to all of my children and it was one of our read again books that never got old. Chapter Two features two families that read together daily. One family read multiple books multiple times a day. Mom journal-ed her daily reading and the final count was book number 694 before her daughter Erin went to collage. The second story was about a dad and his daughter Kristen who read together 3,218 nights in a row starting in fourth grade.  Although, I first felt like I would never be able to match reading 25 books with my twins in for 75 minutes, I was inspired to continue reading with them well beyond their younger years. What kind of routine have you established in your home? Does your child have their own collection of books? Do you have a family read-aloud favorite?

# data[].attributes.headline
When I think about reading I have to say that I don't have fond memories of it! Growing up, I never saw my parents reading. My paternal grandmother was and still is illiterate and so printed text was never seen simply lying around in my household. I was never a lover of reading. In fact, I struggled with reading during my elementary school days. I began reading and actually liking it when I was introduced to Charlotte's Web in 3rd grade. From there my so called "love of reading" began.  

# data[].attributes.subject
When I think about reading I have to say that I don't have fond memories of it! Growing up, I never saw my parents reading. My paternal grandmother was and still is illiterate and so printed text was never seen simply lying around in my household. I was never a lover of reading. In fact, I struggled with reading during my elementary school days. I began reading and actually liking it when I was introduced to Charlotte's Web in 3rd grade. From there my so called "love of reading" began.  

# data[].attributes.body
When I began my undergrad in Elementary Education, I had to take a read-aloud class. This was and still is the best class I have ever taken! We read read-aloud books and actually acted out the characters. WOW did I enjoy that class! In that class I was introduced to authors such as Chris Van Allsburg, Patricia Polacco, Kevin Henkes and many others. I learned to LOVE children's books in a way that I had never loved them before. In this class I also learned that children need to be immersed in a print rich environment and so when I began having children I made sure to read to them, with them and in front of them. We all have our favorite books and I will be honest, the stresses of the world sometimes take over and we all just fall asleep without reading. However, we try to read together as many times as we possibly can. I enjoy reading to them and "acting" out the many different characters and I know hands down that my boys enj
oy watching me read to them.

# data[].attributes.headline
Time to get started!! In the introduction on page xviii the chart features the % of students who have a high vrs. Low interest in books. What stands out to you? How is reading modeled in your home today or what could you do differently to model reading? CHAPTER 1: Why Read Aloud? discusses building background knowledge. After reading passages 1 and 2 on page 13, how did your brain feel? How many times did you read passage 2. Unless you are familiar with cricket, it was difficult to comprehend what you were reading. This exercise is a peek into how a child’s brain is trying to process what they are reading. The more familiar you are with the topic, like baseball featured in passage 1, it takes more time for our brain to try to understand what it is reading. What are some ways that you can connect books you read with your child to everyday or life experience?

# data[].attributes.subject
Time to get started!! In the introduction on page xviii the chart features the % of students who have a high vrs. Low interest in books. What stands out to you? How is reading modeled in your home today or what could you do differently to model reading? CHAPTER 1: Why Read Aloud? discusses building background knowledge. After reading passages 1 and 2 on page 13, how did your brain feel? How many times did you read passage 2. Unless you are familiar with cricket, it was difficult to comprehend what you were reading. This exercise is a peek into how a child’s brain is trying to process what they are reading. The more familiar you are with the topic, like baseball featured in passage 1, it takes more time for our brain to try to understand what it is reading. What are some ways that you can connect books you read with your child to everyday or life experience?

# data[].attributes.headline
My thought did not get completed.  I was trying to say that when I taught Junior High ,I read out loud to my students everyday for pleasure, I still try to read to my students everyday for pleasure.  It lets them know that reading is fun and enjoyable.

# data[].attributes.subject
My thought did not get completed.  I was trying to say that when I taught Junior High ,I read out loud to my students everyday for pleasure, I still try to read to my students everyday for pleasure.  It lets them know that reading is fun and enjoyable.

# data[].attributes.body
I am a true believer in reading out loud to children no matter what age. When I

# data[].attributes.body
I would choose Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Who wouldn't want to be a princess! Like Belle, I love to read and discover all of the places a good book can take you.

# data[].attributes.body
I think I would be Snow White. Growing up in a large family with several brothers I always felt like I would tell them what to do like the seven dwarfs but I only had three brothers but when I was with all my cousins I was with a bunch of boys.

# data[].attributes.headline
Welcome to the Parent Book Club!! Let us know you made it by answering this ice breaker question: If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

# data[].attributes.subject
Welcome to the Parent Book Club!! Let us know you made it by answering this ice breaker question: If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

# data[].attributes.headline
I would choose Fancy Nancy, because when I was little I loved to play dress up and have tea parties under the weeping willow tree in my backyard.

# data[].attributes.subject
I would choose Fancy Nancy, because when I was little I loved to play dress up and have tea parties under the weeping willow tree in my backyard.

# data[].attributes.headline
I would definitely be Fern from Charlotte's Web. As a kid, I despised reading. I then went into third grade and met Mrs. Dagano. She made us read Charlotte's Web and thus began my love of books. I dreamed about owning a pig, naming him Wilbur and putting him in my doll carriage. I always fought for the rights of animals after that. One day I will have a Wilbur of my own! 

# data[].attributes.subject
I would definitely be Fern from Charlotte's Web. As a kid, I despised reading. I then went into third grade and met Mrs. Dagano. She made us read Charlotte's Web and thus began my love of books. I dreamed about owning a pig, naming him Wilbur and putting him in my doll carriage. I always fought for the rights of animals after that. One day I will have a Wilbur of my own! 