Michelle Mell, M.Ed.
K-5 Reading Specialist

Will you read to me??

For Parents:

Reading Aloud to Your Child
When I think back to when my own two children were babies, some of my most cherished memories are of them sitting on my lap as I read a book to them.  Even as infants, I read to them words that I knew they did not yet understand.  I loved to smell their hair as they nuzzled under my neck and looked and listened to the story they had chosen for me to read to them.  Not many evenings passed by that I did not read a bedtime story to my kids.  Not only did I do this because I loved this special time with my kiddos, but also because I knew just how powerful it is to read aloud to children everyday.  As my children went on to school, the ritual stayed the same.  Every night we read together.  But now they were beginning to be able to read as well and to understand the stories and predict what might happen next.  Reading aloud to my children became much more of an interactive experience.  My children are in second and fourth grades and I still read aloud to them as often as I can between dance class, baseball practice, and homework.  It may be chapter books now and not as many picture books, but it is still an intimate moment that I can spend with my children who are quickly growing into independent readers.  The latest research is showing how important it is to read aloud to even middle school and high school children.  That is very exciting for me!  Possibly it will be one way I can "sneak" in some of that special time with my kids as they grow up!  I hope you will too! 

For the Kids:
Ask someone to read to you!

Finding time to spend with your parents can seem very challenging these days!  But whenever you have a chance, ask a grown up to read to you!  This is a great thing for you and the adult!  It makes time for you to be together and it helps you learn to be a better reader.  And if you have a little brother or sister, take a minute to sit down and read a book to them!

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.
---Emilie Buchwald (author)