For the Love of Reading

Helping our children fall in love with reading is, more than anything, about finding the right book.  What makes a book “right” is the tricky part.

So many parents have asked for help finding great books that Homeschool Expert has finally launched a Parent+Kid curated reading list that blends classic with current, and fun with learning. Before we get to that—some tips on reading.

Reading Is Hard

Yup, not everyone loves reading.  If I’m honest, only one of my four children has devoured books like candy since the beginning; two of my kiddos have learning disabilities that made reading a chore, and the fourth prefers people to a page.  If you find your child in one of the latter groups, don’t despair—we have work arounds.

Books Are Powerful

They inspire us, inform us, and enlarge our perspectives.  There is a reason so many books have been banned or burned over the years; books are powerful and, to some, they are dangerous.  Because of this, as parent teachers it’s critical we find the balance between revering and fearing books; we must be intentional to direct our children to books that build them up while challenging them in age-appropriate ways.  

This all sounds dreamy, but let’s be real—most parents don’t have time to read the entire children’s section at the library in order to create a solid reading list.  We want some magic book fairy to hand us the perfect catalogue that will inspire our child. The good news?  There are some excellent resources that will make your job of family librarian easier—no pixie dust required.

Reviews Help Navigate

Not to toot our own horn too loudly, but we have spent the past ten years collecting titles by scouring award winning booklists, classics, youth book clubs, libraries, and curricula to develop Homeschool Expert’s very own For the Love of Reading booklist—where every book is a gift.

But, don’t take my word for it.  Before handing it off to your child, take it for a test-drive through your favorite book review site.

One of my favorite sources for reviews is Plugged In.  Regardless of your faith background, it’s an excellent resource because it does not judge books, it provides parents with data about the books based on categories so that parents can decide for themselves if or when to read it: categories such as awards earned, plot summary, belief systems, profanity & violence, sexual content, authority roles, discussion topics, etc). Some books with sensitive content—such as The Witch of Blackbird Pond—we read and discuss as a family.  It has been such a gift to read together—challenging our assumptions, encouraging discussion, and building up our beliefs.

Read Share

Families with children of multiple ages have the chance to score a triple win each week by assigning an older reader (and a non-fiction book) to a younger sibling.  I discovered with our kids that Read Share covers a bunch of needs.  First, it gives the Older a chance to practice enunciation and speaking skills, review content that may be rusty, and bond with the Younger over a shared experience.  Secondly, the Younger loves this “special time” and attention, is inspired to practice good focus and listening skills, develops a greater vocabulary, and enjoys learning “real school” with the Older.  Of course, this also frees me up for a pocket of time while both my children are actively learning together.  Win-win-win.

If a sibling isn’t available, my kids have loved reading to Gramma over Facetime.  Even easier, they have consistently enjoyed reading to our dog.  There are numerous studies showing that reading to a supportive, non-judgmental listener (such as a pet) boosts our kids’ confidence and literacy skills.

There Is More Than One Way to Read

Comics are books too.  At the end of the day, if my reluctant reader is eager to plow through Peanuts, I am thrilled.  Reading is reading.  For some readers, getting started is the hard part.  Improving their confidence with a comic book will inevitably extend to more traditional books. In fact, loads of publishing companies have adopted this viewpoint as well, offering science, engineering, grammar, philosophy, and even math books in comic form to engage apprehensive readers on difficult subjects.  (Have no fear—For the Love of Reading’s comic section is here).

For readers struggling with dyslexia and other eye/brain disorders, audiobooks can be a great resource.  Many libraries offer free audiobooks through apps such as Libby and Overdrive.  On days I feel like we live out of our car, we spend our time behind the wheel listening to historical fiction together.  Typically, we get so caught up in the story that we forget we’re learning, and the kids beg me to pause the book when I drop them off.  

Redefine reading time.  Not everyone has time to read picture books to their littles as often as they would like.  If that’s you, make an audio recording of yourself reading a few of your child’s favorite books to give to your child. (I used to ring a jingle bell when I turned each page so my non-readers could follow along with the pictures as they listened).  My husband made a few of these for our kids when he was traveling as well—it was such a comfort to our children to fall asleep listening to him read.  As an unintended bonus, I recorded myself reading a few poems between stories and in no time the kids had them memorized!

Books Rock

When students encounter a hard subject, season, or school environment, one of the best ways to fill subject gaps (and improve their sense of well-being) is by reading.  Each spring our kids take the Stanford-10 Assessment Online so I can keep track of their progress and identify subject areas that might need extra help.  Combining their interests with their needs, I design a summer reading program (with goals and prizes) that incentivize reading in areas both in and out of their comfort zones.  Stories make dry concepts come alive because they are about people.  Whether it is a science comic with action figures saving the double helix or a fictional narrative of the Revolutionary War, reading great books moves the needle from “dusty data” to “memorable events” by making it personal. 

Don’t underestimate the value of a good story to pause the panic, fill the gap, and inspire growth.