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In The Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease, he mentions a formular to help children desire to read. By noticing a child's motivation behind reading and by limiting the difficulty of effort in doing so you can better encourage (maximize frequency) reading.
Reward
--------- = Frequency
Effort
Reading Rewards
- escape
- information
- prestige or honors (grades, etc.)
Reading Effort (hindrances)
- distractions
- lack of time
- availability
- disability
- negative perceptions
We can't get better at reading if we aren't listening well. And we won't write well if we aren't speaking or reading well. It is a process. I like thinking in terms of this process and the following chart to better understand...
- Listen
- Speak
- Read
- Write
Understanding this should clarify our need for us not to rush our kids into writing. Little kids are still learning language and how to listen and speak. They shouldn't need to master writing until they are more comfortable with the first parts in this process. When that happens the other later pieces will more naturally occur and most likely even faster.
Also, writing implies judgment. We don't want kids to feel judgment from ages 0-7. Instead we want them to feel free to express themselves as they like without fear of doing something right or wrong. When kids have to write things down and capture their thoughts their is pressure and stress. Let's first let kids express themselves. Writing should come more at the stage of logic, after age 7.
Also, writing implies judgment. We don't want kids to feel judgment from ages 0-7. Instead we want them to feel free to express themselves as they like without fear of doing something right or wrong. When kids have to write things down and capture their thoughts their is pressure and stress. Let's first let kids express themselves. Writing should come more at the stage of logic, after age 7.
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Even more powerful than reading is storytelling....read my post about that. I consider it the next step beyond reading.
