Building Strong Readers
Learning to Listen
to My Own Voice
by Mark B.
​​There are few times that are sweeter than feeling a soft, warm baby snuggled up against you. The close tenderness of those moments can stay with you for a lifetime.
A baby comes attached to a parent's hopes and dreams of what they wish that baby's life could be. Whether the parent thinks about it, or not, the success of most of those dreams hinges on whether that little baby grows up to be an effective reader. What makes a baby love reading?
One lesson a parent figures out is that children learn to love reading by being read to. You need to read to them at a young age. Babies love the closeness of being held and hearing their parents' voices.
Reading should be pleasurable for all of the participants. Relax. Breathe. Read. Choose something that you want to read that is appropriate for the baby's mood.
Hold the baby closely in a comfortable position. Read with expression. Read for as long as the child is enjoying the experience. When the baby gets restless, bring the reading to a sweet ending. That's the beginning of building a strong reader!
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What are your favorite books to share with children? Tell us about them on the CONTACT page. Who knows? Your book information could be published on our website!
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Here are a few of my favorites!
*Aubri's Story: Rising Above Bullying by Crystal Ellison
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*Ella Autie by Catlaina Vrana
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*Harry the Happy Mouse by NGK, illustrated by Janelle Dimmett
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*The Great Gilly Hopkins and *Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
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*Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
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*Pass It On: African-American Poetry for Children
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The decision to pursue a career as a writer was a challenging one. I initially believed that writing was among the most difficult tasks in the world. Throughout my high school years, I frequently complained about the writing assignments in my English classes. However, during the CONNECT Program, I began to enjoy writing starting in my second year of the program. I realized that writing was not as daunting as I initially thought. The experience pushed me to my limits and presented significant challenges.
Over the years, more than one person has expressed doubt about my goal to be a professional writer. You might wonder why people are not fully on board with my writing. They struggle to see it as a real career. For them, it's simply a hobby, and would not be a central part of their lives. It is my life, and I have my own vision. With a plan and hard work, I can move closer to my goal.
When my writing career began, I was a second-year student at Johnson County Community College. I was having dinner with my support team to check in on how life was going and to seek advice. That night, I met Donna, someone who was very special. She was part of a young adult group, and my support team encouraged me to join, believing it would help me expand my horizons. Donna told me about her organization’s magazine. Several months later, I was published in that magazine. I was so proud to be a writer with a great mindset as I co-wrote this article with Donna.
Focusing on my objectives will help me become an excellent writer by improving my grammar, writing a monthly column with Live Well with ADD, and consistently practicing my writing skills. Thinking about starting a monthly column with Live Well with ADD, my plan was to write with Connie after the CONNECT graduation. I knew it’d be a bit tricky because Connie has strict deadlines to meet, and I’d need to make sure the grammar and spelling are on point and the article’s easy to read. Then, I’d get any feedback she has on what needs fixing.
After last year, I know the truth in my heart. I was paid for a piece I wrote for JCCC. This was one of the first of many steps toward my dream of becoming a professional writer. I believe deeply that this path is mine to walk, that I can turn passion into purpose. With a fierce positive mindset, I know I can make this dream a reality. The year 2026 will see me continue to take steps toward achieving my goal.
Readers' Corner - exploring reading for pleasure.
Reading for Pleasure - a reading strategy that changes lives
When I was in my grad school program, I learned a reading strategy called "Reading for Pleasure." It is an amazing program that can improve the lives of struggling readers. It's easy! Have the reader select a book of their choice at their reading level. How can you tell if the book is appropriate? You don't need to be a reading teacher. If they can easily read a random passage of about 100 words from the book, it's a good choice for them. If they stumble over words and hesitate while reading, then it is too hard. They need to find another book.
Reading for Pleasure is done daily, at least five days per week. Once the reader has their book, they need to read it for at least 20 minutes per day. After the 20 minutes of reading, the reader writes in her journal. The journal can be a notebook or she can use a computer. She puts the name of the book (the first time she writes about the book), the date, and which pages were read. Then, the student paraphrases what they have read. They tell about the story in their own words. They do not copy any sentences from the book. In fact, it helps them learn to retain information when they seldom look at the book after they finish reading. I discourage, but do not forbid, looking back in the book. One thing that helps is if they can discuss what they read with somebody else. That helps them get their thoughts in order. Then, they write in the journal. Have the reader share with another person what they wrote in their reading journal . That's it!
I have known middle and high school students to increase their reading scores 2-3 grade levels in one semester, when they are doing this program daily. Their academic lives improved greatly!
Words Bring Wisdom!
"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."~Confucius
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"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."~Michael Jordan
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"Believe that you can and you're halfway there."~Theodore Roosevelt