Educating through Reading

„ABCXXI – All of Poland Reads to Kids” Foundation

Learning the language

Every child is born prepared by evolution to learn language.

Nature has devoted the first weeks, months and years of child’s life (so-called „brain sensitive period”) to learning the language. That’s when the language is learned spontaneously and with ease, without formal education.

Children pick up the language through listening, emotional exchanges and conversations with their loved ones. Adults need to talk a lot to infantsand toddlers face to dace, to make sure that the child can hear and listen to them, see lips, face and gestures. Children placed „face forwards” in a stroller lose hundred of hours of valuable language learning time.

Learning the language

» Children cannot learn the language from the media, as learning to speak requires emotional involvement and active participation of a child in an interaction with a living person.

» A four-month-old baby can distinguish its mother tongue from a foreign language.

» In the first year of its life a child can learn the sound and the structure of any language.

» Learning any activity outside the „sensitive period” which nature has provided for acquiring the specific skill is much more difficult and renders worse results.

Why is language learning so important?

Language is a primary tool of:

● thinking● expanding knowledge

● communicating with people

People with poor language skills:• do not understand specific information• have limited access to education and knowledge• make wrong decisions• are not able to express their needs and views• remain outside the mainstream of culture and life• have limited access to numerous professions and social functions.

Language-related problems of contemporary children

The number of children with speaking and understanding deficiencies is growing.

Contemporary children have not enough opportunities to practice speaking!

» Too few conversations and playing with parents» „Face forward” position in strollers» Spending time in nurseries, where no conversation is practiced in the one-to-one

configuration» Time spend in front of a screen, playing with electronic gadgets» Not enough contact and time spent on playing with peers

It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become proficient in any field of choice!

Language development of boys

Boys find it more difficult to develop their language skills as their left brain hemisphere – in charge of language and thinking functions – develops later and slower.

Nursery and early separation from mother exert a particularly negative impact on mental and language-related skills of boys, thus deteriorating their educational capabilities.

Boys require increased language stimulation – they need to be talked to and read to on a daily basis from early childhood!

Knowledge is the key to success of individuals and societies!

Reading is the key to knowledge and mental skills.

No one is born a reader!

The habit of reading and fondness of books need to be shaped in childhood by reading daily to a child

for pleasure!

Research confirms that reading aloud to children:

» Satisfies the child’s emotional needs of love, attention and stimulation» Creates a strong bond between the parent and the child» Supports child’s mental development» Boosts self-confidence» Teaches the language, expands vocabulary, provides freedom in speech» Equips to efficient reading and writing» Teaches independent thinking that is logical, critical and based on the

cause-result principle » Develops imagination» Improves concentration» Exercises memory

Research confirms that reading aloud to children:

» Provides extensive general knowledge» Facilitates learning and helps succeed in school» Teaches the child to distinguish between good and evil, enhances moral

sensitivity» Boosts sense of humor» Is great entertainment» Prevents children from developing TV and computer addictions» Is a healthy escape from boredom, failure and problems» Protects a child against threats posed by mass culture» Prevents anti-social activities, including violence» Shapes a life-long habit of reading and expanding knowledge

Words of wisdom for parents

„No matter how busy you are, one of the most important things you can do

for the future of your child,

next to showing him your love by hugging,

is to read to him aloud daily and to radically reduce the amount of time spent in front of a TV set.”

Jim Trelease, author of „The Read-Aloud Handbook”

Children should associate reading with pleasure,

never with a duty, penalty or boredom!

„A nation that does not read much, does not know much. And a nation that does not know much is more likely to make poor choices in home, the marketplace, the jury box, and the voting booth.

The uneducated majority can outvote the educated minority – it’s a very dangerous aspect of democracy.”

Jim Trelease, author of „The Read-Aloud Handbook””

Book selection criteriaBook selection criteria

While choosing books for reading to children, select the ones that:

• are targeted for children, interesting and understandable for them, • make sense – deal with something meaningful to a child, teach

something important • are written in or translated into correct and beautiful language,• teach rational thinking,• offer reliable knowledge and/or high level of entertainment• convey the message of respect for children, human beings, other

creatures, animals, nature, country, social norms,• develop good taste and sense of humor,

Book selection criteria

While choosing books for reading to children, select ones that:

• are adjusted to child’s age and sensitivity, not evoking fear or anxiety,

• offer a positive moral message, promote good attitudes and behaviors,

• develop aesthetic sensitivity,• shape the attitude of optimism and self-confidence, and

promote a positive attitude towards the world,

• avoid stereotypes related to gender, race, nationality, etc.,• avoid violence as „a way of life” and a solution to

problems.

How to read to children?

Daily, preferably at the same time;

With involvement;

In a manner that is interesting for a child, using:

• voice: quiet-loud, fast-slow, high-low, pause,

• mimics and lively gestures,

• gadgets;

Reading should be considered fun, we should play with the text and letters;

Children should not be forced to sit still, to listen to books that they are not interesting for them, or when they are clearly not willing to listen. If the child is not used to listening – start by reading short texts that will gradually become longer, expanding the span of child’s attention.

Learning to read

In order to learn to read, a child needs:

» good language skillsthis can be achieved by talking to and with the child frequently, without using baby talk, and by reading aloud daily

» general knowledge about the worldconversations, reading and providing a child with opportunities to expand its knowledge and to gain experience (e.g. describing the household chores performed, visiting museums, trips to the forest, educational films)

» knowledge about the written language knowledge of letters and written language rules

Starting by teaching letters, when children do not have good language skills and sufficient knowledge about the world, guarantees

a failure of both parties!!!

Reading to disabled children enhances their development

Jennifer Thomas with Jim Treleas, American Jennifer Thomas with Jim Treleas, American promoter of reading to children promoter of reading to children (Photo: Jim Trelease archives)(Photo: Jim Trelease archives)

Jennifer Thomas – born with the Down syndrome. Her parents used to read to her a lot from the very beginning. When attending regular school, Jennifer was often the only kid in class to understand more difficult fragments of the text. Her vocabulary was phenomenal. She is a college graduate.

Reading to disabled children enhances their development

Steven Kunishima and his family(Photo: courtesy of a newspaper published in Honolulu)

Steven Kunishima was born with a severe brain anomaly. The doctors claimed he would never walk or talk. In addition to physiotherapy, his mother has introduced daily reading to him. At the age of five, Steven could say a few words. At 12, he walked, talked, read and wrote just as well as his peers. He is a successful student, holds a black belt in karate, plays the piano and scuba dives.

Reading opens the path to social promotion and success!

• Dr. Ben Carson was raised without a father, in the black ghetto of Detroit. His mother was illiterate. When her two sons turned out to be the worst students in school, she introduced a clever and effective rule at home – she made her sons choose 3 TV programs and two books a week, and to write reviews of those.

• Dr. Carson graduated from school as the best student, he went to YALE medical school and was appointed, at the age of 34, the chief neurosurgeon at the best US children’s hospital in Baltimore. He is famous all over the world as a doctor who has successfully separated twins joined at their brains. He is thoroughly educated, affluent, has a happy family, acts as a consultant to businesses and to politicians. His brother is a renowned engineer.

• Sonia Carson’s recipe for children’s success:

3 television programs per week,

2 books per week + writing reviews,

Respect for children and faith in their good features and abilities.

If we want to raise wise, good and happy people, we need to make

sure that reading aloud daily, becomes a priority at home, in

kindergarten and at school of our child!

Recommended readingRecommended reading

Irena Koźmińska, Elżbieta Olszewska – Educating through Reading (Wychowanie przez czytanie)

Ben Carson – Gifted Hands

Daniel Pennac – Like a Novel

Jim Trelease – Read-Aloud Handbook

Mem Fox – Magic Reading

Paul Kropp - Raising a Reader. Make Your Child a Reader for Life