Building Strong Readers
​​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!
My Education with ADHD
Reflecting on my early education as a student with ADHD, I have countless cherished memories from elementary school. Although I faced challenges with reading and mathematics, I was fortunate to have the support of compassionate special education teachers and paraprofessionals who guided me each morning for an hour and a half. While I sometimes felt different from my classmates who excelled academically, I found joy in spending time with my friends and my mother, whom I admire greatly.
My mother was always my strongest supporter during those years, standing up for me when it mattered most. One memorable instance was in fifth grade, when she confronted the band director who tried to exclude me due to perceived inadequacies. She protected me from such worries, allowing me to focus on my growth and development.
Looking back, I see that my educational journey has had its challenges, and I faced some unfair treatment. I now understand why. I was in a school district that didn’t really push me to improve my reading, writing, and math skills. Later in high school, I moved to a different school district that better supported me, helping me feel more confident and independent. My reading and other skills got a lot better there.
Now, as I approach my graduation with my certificate, I am proud to receive my Continuing Education Certificate in Career Development and Leadership from Johnson County Community College through the CONNECT program. CONNECT is a program that works with neurodivergent learners. I am deeply thankful for the meaningful connections I formed during my elementary school years. My teachers valued my presence and contributions, and they now express pride in the person I have become.
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Mark B. is a young man with ADHD. As an adult with ADHD, Mark goes to school, works, and has a full social and family life. He is passionate about advocating for those people who have difficulty speaking up for themselves. Mark facilitates a group "to prioritize virtual social interactions and community support." He aspires to be a writer. His articles have been published in educational media.
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