Transcript

Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, caregivers, what are you waiting for?

What would happen if we started questioning, what if? What if we had a positive perspective on education? What if we flip the switch on education? What if we were the solution?

Hello listeners. Welcome back to season two of BLaST the Airwaves! We are excited to connect with you and provide educational solutions for all. Specifically this season, we will focus on support for our caregivers. My name is Rebecca Gibboney and I am the Coordinator of Professional Learning here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Today, we talk about the importance of reading. What kind of a reader are you? How much do you, yourself, value reading? Ultimately, we are the models for our child or children. The skill, the habit, starts with you.

When I was younger, reading was my world. There was nothing like snuggling next to my grandmother or grandfather to listen to a good storytime. There was nothing like escaping into my own little fairytale world away from reality. And, let’s be honest, there was nothing like that snack time that accompanied storytime. Yet, as I got older, my love for reading–that excitement–started to dwindle. There were too big of words, page requirements, less photos, less imagination.

But, why? Was there more emphasis on academic reading than there was pleasure reading? I have no idea. Did I only see reading as a requirement? Again, I have no idea. All I know is that there was little fairytale land and more reality.

Fisher, Frey, and Hattie recall that academic reading with a teacher is far different than academic reading with a caregiver. While in the classroom, one is reading with rigor and intensity, having that productive struggle, reading at home with a loved one, is just that. It is love. It is bonding and connectedness, fun and games. Reading brings us together in positive ways and supports learning. And again this can be done in the classroom, but there is a little bit different of an emphasis.

Reading, the love of reading, must be developed at a young age and continued throughout a student’s years. The value of reading must be emphasized not only in the classroom, but in the home. Reading builds knowledge and proficiency. It builds vocabulary. Did you know that a student who reads an average of fifteen minutes a day outside of school, reads an average of 1,168,000 words per year? And, if they are reading children’s books, they are being exposed to an average of 30.9 rare words per thousand. Wowzers! That is a big deal!

Why is that a big deal? Because that is your child’s vocabulary. That is your child’s comprehension. More so than academics, that is your child’s time to connect with you.

So, pick up a book and read in front of your child. Read with your child. Get a family library card. Talk with your child’s teacher to find just the “right fit” for reading level with your child. Open up those conversations and bring your child into a fairytale land…just don’t forget the snacks!

It doesn’t matter the type of book. You could pick a narrative text and open up your child’s imagination. Or, perhaps read a story with your child to discuss failures and triumphs..you know speak to that social-emotional side of your child. Maybe your child is interested in an informational text and he or she expands his or her knowledge of events or phenomena. The sky’s the limit. There’s no right or wrong.

You can read silently snuggled beside your child or you can read aloud. The choice is yours. Reading aloud, while some may think isn’t as beneficial, is actually quite the opposite. You see, reading aloud develops that vocabulary while increasing that listening comprehension. Surprisingly, reading aloud also helps your child self-regulate. Better yet, read aloud jointly, reading together promotes that closeness and brings you together in that positive space. So, read in your silly voice, give your pirate accent your best shot! Share your personality, while pausing to ask questions.

And then…spice it up. Instead of reading, work on some vocabulary. Play family game night with board games that work on word knowledge. I always love a good game of pictionary or scrabble. Again, I may not be the best at it, but it’s always fun! Or how about the game, 20 questions? You know, when the child asks 20 yes or no questions to guess what you are thinking about within a category. What a fantastic game to work on deductive reasoning!

Friends, reading is not rocket science. There are far too many opportunities at all of our fingertips to not have our children reading. Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable reading aloud to your child. Maybe you are not as confident with your reading skills. That is okay. Start with an online program that reads the books aloud. Work on the skill together. The important piece here is that we must start. We must reinforce the importance of reading at home, not as a chore but as an opportunity. An opportunity to snuggle right up with you. An opportunity to escape into that fairytale land. And, yes, an opportunity for that delicious afternoon or bedtime snack.

And for those of you who are concerned about my love for reading, do not worry…I like to say I am falling back in love with reading. My snuggles may look different thanks to my animals, but those snacks still remain the same.

We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solution for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.

Additional/Suggested resources mentioned in the episode:

The Distance Learning Playbook by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie

BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 – www.iu17.org 

Professional Learning Opportunities at BLaST IU 17 – https://www.iu17.org/professional-learning/ 

Find BLaST the Airwaves on: