Growing Readers: Learning to Love Reading and Writing Column 9
This editorial article was written by Lizzie Mussoline, M. Ed.
Tips to Help Create a Love of Learning
Although Valentine’s day is only one day, we like to celebrate love and literacy all month long! Here are a few tips to help build a love of learning in your home:
We LOVE Multisensory Learning
Do you have any learners in your life that need help with reading and or spelling particular words? Know any kiddos that are resistant to doing homework or studying? An awesome way to get kids motivated to do their homework, study, or just retain important information is by doing so in a multisensory way – ways that activate various senses, which will help with higher retention of information. Not only is this a great way to learn, but best of all in our opinion, it’s FUN!
Here are some Ideas for multisensory learning:
- Tactile: encourage your child to write words, terms, or concepts on a salt tray, with shaving cream, or whiteboard markers on a window.
- Kinesthetic & Visual: Write words or concepts on paper, tape them all around the house and have your child go on a “gallery walk”; Have them walk the house and review the important information.
What can you use these activities for?
- To practice reading and spelling sight words (words that are not phonetic and thus need to be memorized”)
- Vocabulary words
- Math Facts
- Reading and spelling longer multisyllabic words
- Any other important ideas/concepts that need to be studied
Show the LOVE
Draw a large heart on paper or poster, one with each family member’s name on it. Have everyone decorate the outside of their hearts with any art medium of their choice. Explain to your family that they can write down anything they love about that family member whenever they feel the urge to express their love or appreciation. This is sure to help fill everyone’s buckets. Extend this activity by discussing it over dinnertime or, by having everyone jot down things they love about themselves! What a great way to teach and model celebrating the one and only you. How’s that for a confidence boost?
Recommend a Book You Love
Share the love by recommending a book to someone! We have previously suggested this, but it truly never gets old. There are so many ways to boost literacy and a love of learning through book recommendations. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to recommend a book.
Here are a few ideas on how to get started:
- Include the book title, author, genre and summary. Remind kids that a summary is an overview of what the book was mostly about; not all the tiny, intricate details. Most importantly, explain why you loved the book.
- Explain your favorite part of the book. Why did you love this part of the book?
- Explain who was your favorite character. Why did you love this character?
- Draw a picture of your favorite scene. Be sure to explain the scene in writing and why it was your favorite.
- If the book was nonfiction, what did you learn from it? Who would you recommend it to and why?
Send the Love – Write a Letter of Appreciation
Challenge your family members to write at least one letter this month to anyone they would like to appreciate such as an old friend, family member, classmate, buddy from camp, school Librarian, Mail Carrier, or any community member or helper. Not sure how to get started? Include what you appreciate or love about the person and why. Be specific! Make sure to include details that help adequately express your appreciation!
Lastly, Drop Everything and Read Lots of Books About Love
Here are just a few of our favorite book lists:
Valentine’s Day Books for Kids
Teach Kids About Self-Love with 2 Beautiful Picture Books
Ten Kids Picture Books About Unconditional Love
Thank you for reading the Growing Readers: Learning to Love Reading and Writing column. Bookmark this Growing Readers Column link or subscribe to our e-newsletter so you do not miss out on the monthly reading tips. Building Stronger Family Connections Through Literacy was written by Lizzie Mussoline, M. Ed.—follow her on Instagram: @wildflower_learning_denver.