Category: Literacy Tips

A few weeks ago, my older daughter read a book in which the main character types a newspaper on a typewriter, and she decided she really, really wanted to do the same thing. Not one to say “No” to our girls when they’re really excited to read or write something, I told her we’d see what we could do (turns out used typewriters that work are hard to find and expensive!). But, being friends with an OT with every trick under the moon up her sleeve pays off, as my friend Courtney from OT OuTside has an old typewriter that we borrowed. And for the two weeks that it lived on our kitchen table, both of our girls wrote newspapers stories, letters, and notes on it every single day.

Which got me thinking about how I needed to share this tip with you all! No, I’m not saying you need to go out and find a typewriter for your kids to play on. But, I am encouraging you to think about what out-of-the-box tools you have around that can make writing fun and exciting for your emerging or reluctant writers (because, just like with reading, the more kids enjoy writing, the more they’re going to write, and the better they’re going to become). Read on for a few other ideas of fun, unique writing tools to get your kids excited about writing!

Continue reading “Literacy Tip — Provide Unique Writing Tools to Make Writing Exciting” →

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’ve likely picked up on the fact that I’m not at all worried about teaching my girls to read before they start kindergarten (and, then, I’m not worried about teaching them myself… I trust our teachers to let me know if we need to work on anything from home!). But, I know that kindergarten readiness is at the forefront of many parents’ minds over the course of that year leading up to kindergarten. Step back and take a relaxing breath, though, because if you follow me, you’re likely already doing all that you need to do to help your child be ready to read and write when the time comes!

Continue reading “Easy Ways for Parents to Prepare Kids to Learn to Read and Write” →

If you’re a teacher or a parent, you’ve likely bemoaned children’s book choices at one point or another… Or maybe you feel that way almost every day! After all, why would children choose to read so many “lite” reads (or junk, as you might call it) when so many wonderfully written, beautifully thought-provoking, lesson-teaching books have been written for kids? I’m talking about those books that are, as Jim Trelease writes, “accessible,” those books that are written so simply and with such simple storylines that they’re easy to read… As adults, we might think of them as beach reads. And, just like beach reads have a valid place in many an adults’ reading lives, these “lite” reads can be greatly beneficial to children, too!

Continue reading “Should We Let Our Children Read Junk?” →