READING TIPS AND NOTES
HOME PROJECTS
Your house and your daily life are full of opportunities to engage children in reading.
You can create scrapbooks or alphabet posters with your kids. You can write to-do lists together. You can even create mini-libraries in your house and encourage your children to arrange their books by subjects.
The U.S. Department of Education has plenty of other suggestions. Here are three of them:
Turn your children’s writing into a book
What you need:
Construction paper, yarn or ribbon, cardboard, colorful cloth or wrapping paper, paste, scissors.
Follow these easy steps:
* Paste pages of your child’s writing onto pieces of construction paper.
* Discuss the order of the writing. Should all the stories about animals go in one section and the tales about holidays in another?
* Number the pages.
* Create a table of contents.
* Make covers for the book with cardboard or heavy paper. You might want to paste colorful cloth or wrapping paper onto the covers.
* Punch holes in the pages and covers.
* Bind the book together by lacing the yarn or ribbon through the holes. Tie the loose ends in bows.
* Add pages to the book as more writing is completed. Or start a new book.
Practice names together
* Print the letters of your child’s name on paper.
* Say each letter as you write it: “K-A-T-I-E” or “M-I-K-E.”
* When you finish, say, “That’s your name.”
* Have your child draw a picture.
* When finished, say, “I have an idea. Let’s put your name on your picture.” As you write the letters, say them out loud.
* If you have magnet letters, spell out your child’s name on the refrigerator door.
* Print your child’s name on a card and put it on the bedroom door or some other special place.
Prepare a meal together
* Ask your children to help you write a grocery list.
* Take them to the market and have them find items on the list.
* Encourage them to read the labels and box tops.
* Have them read the ingredients for the recipe as you prepare a meal together.
* Talk about each of the steps.
BOOK EVENTS
* Today, Los Angeles: Jane Breskin Zalben and Ross Venokur sign their children’s books. Storyopolis, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., 11:30 a.m.
* Monday, Hollywood: Children will hear Thanksgiving stories and take part in a related crafts program. Los Angeles Public Library Memorial Branch, 4625 W. Olympic Blvd., 4 p.m. (323) 938-2732.
* Wednesday, Woodland Hills: Sign-language teacher Kris Vreeland will use American Sign Language to tell stories and fables. Los Angeles Public Library, Woodland Hills Branch, 22200 Ventura Blvd., 3:30 p.m., (818) 887-0160
More to Read
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