Dr. Casey's Reading Room

I am so impressed--what a good idea--also like the topics especially since I am going to online training tomorrow to learn how to teach online.

Will watch your topics closely. What are you and Bill doing? Any trips planned.

Marilyn

Identifying a child's interests can become a powerful link for "Hooking" them on books. Reading can be fun and enjoyable if the book appeals to the reader. We know this to be true based on our very own experiences. After college and motherhood I had forgot what reading for pleasure was until my very young child became fascinated with Harry Potter and I began reading the book aloud to him. It took us almost a year but what a joy it was. I had a hard time not continuing reading it on my own. I did continue reading the rest of the series for my own pleasure and can now understand why they appeal to so many young students.

I agree the key to opening a life-long love of reading is to find a book that is appealing to the child to want to read it "just for fun". I think too often reading becomes a chore because of limited selections of reading materials used in the classroom. A few visits to a well-stocked library can be an adventure, and allow a child access to books about every subject under the sun. Schools and teachers can encourage reading at home for fun by having students keep a reading log and give a small reward for reading a certain number of books, again "just for fun."