Time for #LiteracyTips – Early March Edition
Earlier this week, I sent out our bi-weekly #LiteracyTips newsletter. This is the excerpted version Subscribe to get the full slate of tips, ideas, and updates on literacy research. The email takes no more than 8 minutes to read.
Reading Levels
How much attention we should or shouldn’t pay to a child’s reading level has re-surfaced as a discussion topic recently.
I will be writing a more in-depth article soon, but in the meantime, I want to share a pair of recent articles.
- Stop Freaking Out about Reading Levels by Jodie Rodriguez at Growing Book by Book.
- How Reading Easy Books Benefits Your Child by Melissa Taylor at Imagination Soup
Spring Forward
The clocks have moved forward, which means spring is right around the corner – at least we hope!! Here’s to springing
Even spring cleaning has an inside track with literacy. Here is one of our 3 ideas on planting some literacy seeds AND having some fun family time.
- Plan a garden. Whether it’s putting some tomato seeds in a pot or planting a row of marigolds, spend a little time talking about what your garden will grow.
This is one of my favorite ideas because it creates a chance for you to ask questions and learn about your child:
- What’s your favorite flower/vegetable/color?
- What do you like about this particular [vegetable/fruit/flower]?
- What would you like to grow to eat this summer?
- Where should we put the garden this year?
When you go to the garden center, encourage the kids to ask the staff questions, too.
Picture Book Gardening
- Gardens and Gardening by Terry Doherty @ The Reading Tub
- Seeds and Growing Things by Tricia Stohr-Hunt @ The Miss Rumphius Effect
- 11 Children’s Books about Spring by Amy Broadmoor @ Delightful Children’s Books
Spring Cleaning
In the full newsletter, we shared some ideas on how to incorporate literacy into chores – and make them more fun. Here are some books that go with that theme.