In my previous post I talked about teaching reading, phonics. This is a necessary step and it is important to be consistent as we teach kids to read. But the real fun is making sure that as your kids learn to read they are constantly reminded of the prize – books and reading.

Too often as we teach kids to read we take away all that is joyful about reading. Before kids start learning to read reading was time to snuggle together on the couch, look at beautiful pictures, laugh at funny stories and be swept up in a story. So many kids think that learning to read will be a grand and exciting adventure but reading suddenly becomes a time of hard hard work and boring stories! If we want our kids to push through these phonics lessons and do the hard work of learning to read we must make sure that the magic of books is part of their lives. We are not just trying to teach children to read. We are raising readers! Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• Make reading the reward for reading. After doing the work of a phonics lesson let your child choose a story for you to read to them. This reminds them that reading is fun and worth the hard work.
• A child’s reading level is not their comprehension level. A child might be reading at an easy-reader level but their ability to listen and understand is far higher. Fill your child’s life with read-alouds. This can be done by you reading to them, a sibling reading to them or audio books. Currently my youngest (age 5) is just learning his letters but he is listening to The Hobbit with his siblings and has no problem understanding everything he hears. He could never sit down and read The Hobbit but listening he is able to understand and enjoy the story with the older kids.
• Give them the chance to choose books they want to look at. This is where the library can be a life-saver. At the library I feel no pressure to tell my kids what they should or should not be choosing. I’m not talking about inappropriate books that are contrary to our family values. I’m talking about books that I wouldn’t buy but I have no issue with them checking out for a few weeks. Maybe a book that isn’t the highest quality but they really want to look at. Books that are about what I think might be a fleeting interest. We fill up the bags and check them out for three weeks. I have also discovered some of my favorite books because one of the kids chose it and when we read it at home it was truly a gem and I have wanted to add the book to our family’s book shelves.
• Give your kids the time and space to look at and read books on their own terms. Make sure in your busy schedule and overwhelming checklist that you prioritize, what we call, quiet reading time (QTR). This is time to read (or listen) just for the fun and joy of reading. Some homeschool families I know plan their days so everybody is doing this at the same time. When my kids were younger we did this right after lunch while babies were napping. As my kids have gotten older this has not been possible. Now all my kids do this at different times during their day and it works just fine. Some choose to do QRT first thing in the morning to start their day off with something they love. Others use it as a reward for themselves when they finish math or any subject that they don’t love. Some choose to do QRT last because they know if they work quickly and don’t waste time during the day QRT can be much longer than the required time. So much good comes from kids having the opportunity to explore and read on their own.
• Find books that kids love and respect their preferences. Just because you loved a book as child does not mean your child will like it. Step back and let them develop their own preferences in books. If you are patient and respectful you might be surprised what books they will choose to read. One of my all-time favorite books in high school was The Chosen by Chaim Potok. Anytime one of my high schoolers is looking for a new book I suggest The Chosen and not one of them has read it yet. I’ll keep suggesting and maybe one day I’ll have a taker. But I don’t get offended that they don’t read every book I suggest. Forcing a book on someone is a great way to make sure they don’t love the book and will probably love reading a little bit less. But, seriously, if you are looking for a fantastic book read The Chosen!

Make reading part of your family’s day to day life. Talk about books you are reading and ask about what others are reading, read books together, turn off the TV for a night and tell everyone to find a book, make time in your family’s life to read read read! And one day you will look at your kids racing out the door with a book in hand, just in case they have a minute to read, and pat yourself on the back because not only did you teach them how to read you raised a reader!