Lets Get Them to Read!!!!!

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."
— Walt Disney

You know, for me reading is a confusing topic. I feel like you either hate it or you love. I LOVE to read and I always have. Unfortunately this is not the case with many people. When you ask these non-readers why they hate it so much it usually goes back to some horrible event in their childhood where they were completely embarrassed because they couldn’t read as well as somebody else. Well, that OR they think it’s boring. : ) I think it’s really important to make sure reading is FUN. It should be an adventure, a mysterious, creative, exciting ADVENTURE. Books can take kids places that they may never be able to go in real life and it’s wonderful.

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."
— Frederick Douglass

The question is how do you find books that encourage all these things? Well, I think when they said “A picture is worth a thousand words” they were talking about choosing books for ESL students. Choose books with illustrations that are entrancing. Choose books with words that are captivating. Vocabulary should be challenging but still rewarding. An ESL reader needs to feel confident in their reading so choose books that will help them succeed as well as learn. Choose books that create questions? When children read they should be asking why? How? WHAT IF…? Leave room for imagination and further discovery. The key to promoting literacy is availability. Literacy is EvErYeWhErE…it’s on the posters on the wall, it’s in the magazines, books, newspapers, grocery stores, mail, etc. Point out literacy in all aspects of the child’s life, that’s how you promote it. That’s how you get them excited about it.

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."
— Jacqueline Kennedy