Summertime for Building Background Knowledge

“Background knowledge is like VELCRO! It helps new knowledge adhere.  The more background knowledge you develop and use, the more you can make sense of and remember new information.”                                                                                                                         -7 Keys to Comprehension; How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It!

"When I Visit the Farm" - Lobster Press on BeThereBedtimeStories.com

How do you obtain background knowledge? In one word; experiences. These experiences come from life such as a visit to farm to pick strawberries, a field trip to a museum or reading a variety of good literature.  The more background knowledge a child has acquired, the easier it is for him/her to make connections to reading.

I myself have scheduled a bargain, background knowledge trip for my family. We are taking the train into Chicago on a day where kids ride for free. We will visit the Shedd Aquarium on a ‘free community day’. We will bring a lunch and have a picnic outside in the park. The truth of the matter is my girls will get as much background knowledge experience from the journey itself as opposed to the destination. The most valuable thing to do is to question, talk to and engage your youngster as much as they will have it! Enjoy your summer building all that important background knowledge for your kids, whether they are in single digits or double digits!

Emerging Readers

Are you still looking for ways to encourage your young child to read? Would you like to instill in your child a love of books? With your help, kids from toddlers to preschoolers can get a head start on the road to reading, even if they cannot yet read themselves. Here are a few suggestions help get you started from : – www.essortment.com

• Return to your child’s favorite books again and again. Make books available to your child at all times by placing them on a shelf within easy reach. This invites your child to look at books whenever he desires.

• Encourage preschoolers to “write” their own books. Let your child dictate stories or the events of the day to you, and write them down word for word. Allow her to add artwork or pictures cut from magazines. Then, read the book back to your child.

• As your child grows, look for books on subjects that are of special interest to his experiences and expanding knowledge.

Reading to our children can do more than simply help them excel in school; reading to them can instill a love of books that will last them a lifetime.

Your only investment is time…

Are you looking for ways to encourage your young child to read? Would you like to instill in your toddler a love of books? With your help, toddlers and preschoolers can get a head start on the road to reading, even if they cannot yet read themselves. Here are a few suggestions help get you started from : – www.essortment.com

· First, and foremost, read aloud to your child, no matter how young. Infants love to hear their parent’s voice. Reading to your child not only provides a valuable learning experience, but it can become a treasured family activity.  Be There Bedtime Stories adds an entirely new dimension to reading aloud. After recording a story for a loved one, they will have it to look at for years to come.

· Be a role model. Parents can set a good example by showing that they enjoy and benefit from reading at home.

· Make regular visits to your local library, and be sure to elicit the help of the children’s librarian. There are a number of library resources available to help you choose books, such as reading lists and lists of award-winning books.

The rewards you will reap are priceless.

Computer Fun for your Early Reader

For a wonderful, kid friendly, reading website check out Starfall.com. This website has it all, for kids who are getting ready to read, learning their letter sounds, up to kids who are already reading chapter books, and everything in between. It provides games, music and stories for kids to interact with.
If your early reader is ready to send a Be There Bedtime story to someone special, be sure to check out the selection in the category of Under Age 3. These are books your early reader may be able to read for someone else. You will find some wonderful ABC books, non-fiction and fiction selections. My daughters recently sent Color me Happy written by Sally Harris to their grandfather who was hospitalized this past week. Talk about good medicine!!!

Environmental Print for preschool children

Environmental Print is one of the first types of reading your toddler/pre-schooler can do. Encourage them to identify the signs of common stores you frequent. Some more commonly identified signs may be Target, McDonalds, Home Depot, or even the Be There Bedtime Stories email they receive regularly etc… . You may have already seen your child exhibit this early reading. Encourage your child to call out the name of the store as they see the signs driving by. This naturally opens the door to asking your child what letter the store’s name starts with and then what sound that letter makes. This is empowering and exciting for your young reader!