Literacy Help for Parents

adult literacy These websites offer parent-focused information about reading.

General Reading | How to Select Books | Stages of Reading

HOW TO SELECT BOOKS

Bookseller tools – Some merchants let you preview some pages from books they sell. You and your child can see excerpts of books to see if they interest you.
Boy Year by Donalyn Miller @ The Book Whisperer
Boys and Reading: Tips for Making Reading “Boy Friendly” by Dawn Little, guest blogger at the Children’s Book Review
The Five Finger Test – Learning to Read by Guru Parents
Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books by Social Justice Books, a Teaching for Change project.
How to Clean Your Books by Vanessa @ Silly Eagle Books
Is My Child Ready for Chapter Books by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families, and Learning
Nonfiction for toddlers – Interesting Nonfiction for Kids
Children’s Books Page – Reading Rockets offers links to sources on how to choose and use children’s books at home and school.
Teaching Children to Use the Library by Amy @ Literacy Launchpad
Teaching Children How to Use the Library by First Lady Laura Bush @ WhiteHouse.gove (archive)
10 Steps for Reviewing Books – National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 2010 Note: Excellent for helping you select books, too.

Nonfiction Picture Book Design: Questions That Can Help by Melody Lloyd Allen at Celebrate Science. Ms. Allen used to judge for the Sibert Award (for best children’s nonfiction). Scroll about halfway down. She poses GREAT questions you can use to help select – or guide your child to select – nonfiction books your kids will enjoy.

GENERAL

5 Dinner Time Games to Boost Literacy @ Scholastic Parent
7 Ways to Use Media and Tech to Raise Bilingual Kids by Maria O Alvarez @ Common Sense Media
The 7 Conditions for Learning Language by Rebecca @ Nurturing Narratives
The 7 Levels of Children’s Literature by Juliana Lee @ Crafting Stories
10 Alternatives to Forcing Your Kids to Learn to Read by Erica @ What Do We Do All Day
10 Teachable Moments in the Car @ Scholastic Parent
12 Ways to Read a Picture Book by Ernie Bond @ ChristyBurne.com
21 Tips Throughout a Child’s Bilingual Life by Rita Rosenback @ Bilingual Parenting
25 Reasons to Use Visual Strategies for Autism by Linda Hodgdon
Adventures in Family Learning by Tina Chovanec @ First Book
Articles with Tips for Raising Readers
Annual Reminder that Graphic Novels Are “Real” Reading by Molly Wetta @ Book Riot
Birth to Six Multnomah Falls Public Library List of Developmental Milestones
Book Level Guide for Parents (K-2) by Kristin @ Busy Kids Happy Mom
Booktalk: How to Foster a Love of Reading in Your Children by Christine French Cully @ Brightly
Boredom is Still Good for Children by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families & Learning
Building a Family Library – Bianca Schulze (The Children’s Book Review) published this list, courtesy of Reading is Fundamental.
Can a Playroom Makeover Make My Kids Over (Montessori Principles at home) by Karen Barrow @ New York Times
Can you “Read” an Audiobook? by Eva Mitnick @ Eva’s Book Addiction
The Challenge of Boys and Reading by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families and Learning
A Dad’s Survival Guide to Children’s Music by Todd Hoffman @ The Father’s Life (magazine)
Decoding Report Card Talk by Jackie H @ Ready, Set, Read
Developmental Milestones chart courtesy of Reach Out and Read
Every Child Reads – A podcast interview with Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. Donalyn offers ideas for encouraging reading in school and at home.
A Guide to Reading Advocacy, Part 1: Connecting the Mainstream Classroom and Special Education by Margaret Goldbert @ Reading Rockets
A Guide to Reading Advocacy, Part 2: Is Your Child’s School Getting Reading Right? What to Look For. What to Ask. by Margaret Goldberg @ Reading Rockets
A Guide to Reading with Your Child @ Children’s Library Lady
Guided Reading at Home by Cathy Puett Miller This is a two-part series about ways to mirror school reading techniques at home. We sponsored this article.
Helping Children with Spelling: Skills, Strategies and Support by Trevor Cairney @ Families, Literacy and Learning
How to Clean Your Books by Vanessa @ Silly Eagle Books
How to Read Comics/Graphic Novels with Kids Ann-Marie Cahill @ BookRiot
Is Screen Time Killing our Kids’ Brain Cells (It Depends) Melissa Taylor @ Imagination Soup
The Impact of Media and Technology on Very Young Children by Trevor Cairney at Literacy, Famlies and Learning
It’s a Board! It’s a Game! It’s a Literacy Board Game! by Dawn Little at Literacy Toolbox
Literacy Center Education Network delivers free, professionally designed education materials for preschool children
Making Special Education Work for Your Child During COVID Catherine Ullmann Shade and Janice Ware, Harvard Medical School
Not Too Easy – Embracing Graphic Novels at Home by Pernille Ripp @ Pernille Ripp
Picture Books are for Everyone by Cathy Puett Miller @ Parents and Children Reading Together
Raising Readers: A Mother’s Tale from the Trenches by Literary Mama
Raising Super Readers: 10 Benefits of Comics and Graphic Novels @ Scholastic Parent, with research
Read for Success: Combating the Summer Slide in America Reading is Fundamental [Study]
Read Slowly to Benefit Your Brain and Cut Stress by Wall Street Journal
Read Today! offers free, printable reading material to share with your children
Reading Aloud to Children, More than Talking, Builds Literacy by Susan Frey @ EdSource
Reading & Literacy with the Literacy Ambassador Cathy Puett Miller has extensive experience as an educator in reading and literacy. On her website, you’ll find articles filled with easy-to-use ideas for parents, educators, and librarians.
Reading Rockets! Ed Extras is a monthly feature that presents a one-page article about learning. There are a variety of forms and it is available in English and Spanish.
Reading Skills and Great Books for Kids (website) Find articles wit ways to help kids develop and strengthen their skills, as well as lists of recommended books, broken out by audience.
Reading Tips is a one-page set of easy-to-use ideas courtesy of Reach Out and Read
The Science of Reading Ignores Picture Books in Early Learning by Nancy E Bailey @ Nancy Bailey blog
Setting Up a Home Library by Dawn Little @ Links to Literacy
Simple Pleasures On author Susan Crites’ website, you’ll find a page called Simple Pleasures. This is a continually updated collection of ideas for making reading fun.
Teens and Tweens: Large Print Makes a Difference by Jonathan Dolce @ ALSC blog
This is the absolute worst way to teach your kids to read @ Salon.com
Tips and Book Suggestions for Reading with Young Children by Cathy Miler @ Education Tipster
To Improve Reading, Focus on Writing by Bita Nazarian and Jaime Balboa @ EdSource.org
Understanding Reading Levels Anastasia Suen is a children’s book author, educational consultant, and literacy advocate. On her Easy to Read blog, she has posted an easy reference to help you understand the four reading levels.
Understanding “Whole Language” Reading Instruction @ theconversation.com
What Dads Bring to Read Alouds Children’s Book Council
What parents need to know about the research on how kids learn to read by Jackie Mader @ Hechinger Report
When Children Are Not Read To – The Million Word Reading Gap @ Reading Rockets
Why Children are Not Reading, and What We Can Do About It by Dawn Morris @ Moms Inspire Learning
Why It’s Important to Read with Your Child and How to Make It Count by Amy Joyce @The Washington Post
Why Reading is Good for YOUR Mental Health @ Channel 4 (BBC) [Emphasis ours]

STAGES OF READING

Infant

How Do I Find Time to Read with My Young Child? by Cathy Puett Miller @ Parents and Children Reading Together
The Warmth of a Shared Experience by Cynthia Lord @ Nerdy Book Club
What Children Like in Books describes the kinds of things children like to see in books, from infant to age 5
What Should I Read to My Baby? by Katie Fitzgerald @ The Library Adventure

– TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL

Developing Preschooler’s Vocabulary with Read-Alouds by Dawn Little @ Literacy Toolbox
10 Ways to Boost Your Preschooler’s Literacy by Wendy Zachrisen, guest blogger @ The Children’s Book Review
Developing Preschooler’s Vocabulary with Read-Alouds by Dawn Little @ Literacy Toolbox
For Improving Early Literacy, Reading Comics is No Child’s Play [study] @ Science Daily
Literacy Center Education Network delivers free, professionally designed education materials for preschool children
Making the Most of Reading Aloud with Children by J.H. Everett is a children’s author and illustrator, former elementary school teacher, children’s theater director, and all-around stage ham. In this article, he offers tips about ways to make reading aloud with kids fun.
Read Today! offers free, printable reading material to share with your children
Teaching Toddlers to Read by Kathy Stemke @ Educationtipster
Tips for Reading Aloud with Your Toddler by Susan Stephenson @ Book Chook
3 Reasons to Read with your Child by Scientific Learning

– Emergent, Early, Transitional – K to 2

Finding the Right Book: The 5 Finger Test @ Reading Rockets
How Do I Find Time to Read with My Young Child? by Cathy Puett Miller @ Parents and Children Reading Together
How to Listen to Your Child Read (Part 1) by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families and Learning
How to Listen to Children Reading (Part 2) by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families and Learning
I See Sam Books free to Download and View Online by Michelle Breum @ Beginning Reading Help
Learning to Read: Word Attack Strategies Beyond Sound it Out Melissa Taylor @ Imagination Soup
Leveled Early Readers: Valuable Tool or Marketing Ploy by Amy Broadmoore @ Delightful Children’s Books
A New Bedtime Routine: Reading Aloud Nonfiction by Dawn Little @ Literacy Toolbox
Now I Know My ABCs? by Jackie H. @ Ready, Set, Read!
The Science of Reading Ignores Picture Books in Early Learning by Nancy E Bailey @ Nancy Bailey blog
Secrets Parents Need to Know about Beginning Reading by Cathy Puett Miller @ Parents and Kids Reading Together
Sneaking Strategy Sessions into Your Read Alouds by Dawn Little @ Literacy Toolbox
Teaching and Supporting Comprehension (Part 1) by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families and Learning
Why is My Kid Allowed to Make Spelling Mistakes? by Jennifer Gonzalez @ Cult of Pedagogy

Independent Readers – 3rd Grade and Beyond

5 Tips for Kids Who Hate to Read by Melissa Taylor @ Imagination Soup
Finding the Perfect Book for Struggling Readers @ The Reading Zone. Sarah She is a 6th grade Language Arts teacher, and her ideas help all of us.
Help Your Child Read Nonfiction With These Comprehension Strategies by Melissa Taylor @ Imagination Soup. Melissa shares tips based on her experience as a 4th and 5th grade teacher.
Improving Comprehension – Sketch to Stretch by Trevor Cairney @ Literacy, Families and Learning
Information and Tools for Helping Struggling Readers This links to seven articles that describe conditions and environments that can affect reading. We are not familiar with EasyRead and are not endorsing their product. These articles are non-commercial.
Literary versus Literacy (Reading with Older Kids) by Cathy Puett Miller @ Parents and Children Reading Together
Making Up for Lost Time: Readers 10+ Years Old by Cathy Miller @ Parents and Children Reading Together
Read Alouds in Upper Elementary by Jennifer Findley @ Teaching to Inspire
Reading Resources for Parents and Other Online Help by M. Bromberg @ BookBag
The Trouble with the “50 page” rule by Book Mama @ The Book Mama
Why You Should Read Aloud to Older Kids Jamie Martin @ Steady Mom