Reading Rant: It's IMPORTANT

August 24, 2014

An article was shared with me on the importance of reading aloud to your children.  I have put a link to the article here.  BUT I want everyone to know that reading -- whether being read aloud TO or silently to oneself -- is important at EVERY age.  The ABILITY to read is important, of course, but as Mark Twain said,

“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

Students who read regularly, avidly, are the students who enjoy the most success in school but also throughout their lives.  I am a reading Nazi, but I am so passionate about it because I believe in its importance.  If you're one of my students reading this, take these words to heart and read more than you've ever read before.  If you're a parent reading this, take these words to heart and read more than YOU'VE ever read before.  Read WITH your child/ren, read TO your children, TALK to them about what you've read or what you're reading, and don't just ENCOURAGE your child/ren to read, SCHEDULE IT INTO THE DAY.  As the article I've shared says, 15 minutes is enough to make a difference.

Students:  Take my 40-book challenge.  I challenge you to read 40 books by the last day of school.  That is 10 books per quarter -- a little more than one book each week of the school year (less if you read over Christmas and spring vacations).  YOU CAN DO IT.  TRY!!!  If you can't find an author or a genre or a MAGAZINE or NEWSPAPER that you enjoy, ASK ME.  I will help you find something you can enjoy.  It doesn't matter to me WHAT you read; it only matters to me that YOU READ!

So pick up a book (or a magazine, or a newspaper, or a box of cereal) and start reading.  And enjoy the ride!  

Mrs. Kaska

PS:  View this poster for more interesting facts about reading aloud to your child.