TOP 10 TIPS
FOR HOLIDAY READING
There is one activity that provides the perfect followup to a year of learning in preparation for the next. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that reading for pleasure leads to improvements in reading comprehension, ability to read academic texts, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, general knowledge, empathy and understanding of other cultures. When children & adults read for pleasure, good things happen.
1. Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is choosing what you read, when you read, why you read and where you read.
No book reports, no reading logs, no tests, no quizzes, no strings attached!
​2. Reading aloud to your children
Yes, even for adolescents! Search for a story, magazine article, poetry or informational text that you can enjoy sharing with your family.
3. Conversation
Look for opportunities together to discuss what you have been reading.
Not with a lesson or teaching disposition but with a natural & genuine interest in the topics, characters, themes, author background, favourite moments, new learnings, contrasting perspectives and fun features of a text. A perfect opportunity to build relationship and reinforce family connections.
4. Choice
The ability to choose your own reading, with no strings attached, is the best predictor of whether you will choose to read for pleasure, how often you read, and for how long you read. Choice is critical. Even if it feels like 'light reading', this is how we learn to read and it will always (eventually) lead to deep reading.
5. Create Access
This seems obvious but it is the most influential factor and the most frequently forgotten. Build a print-rich, knowledge-rich home environment where discoveries of a new author, a new idea, or new story is an arms reach away. Visit your local library and walk the aisles of your nearest book store so you can fill the home with a wide range of fun, engaging, and interesting books.
6. Environment
Lay the reading trap with some comfy chairs, pillows, soft toys, snacks & drinks, minimise distractions, add music, and the perfect lighting. Set the scene to enjoy the deep focus of long form reading for pleasure. And of course, spend some time at your local library!
7. Follow interests
Everyone can become a frequent reader if they discover texts that connect to something they care about. Whether it be gaming, cooking, history, sports, current events, philosophy, fantasy, humour, mystery, romance, money, or entrepreneurship, there is truly something out there for everyone - we just need the time to discover it in our local bookshop or library.
8. Modeling
What you do will speak louder than what you say. Show young people how important reading is by spending time reading yourself. Encourage extended family members to share their reading journeys and their current reads.
9. Time
This also seems obvious but reading for pleasure can only happen if there is time for readers to slide into a book when the moment is right. It takes time to bring your focus into a book so create space in the schedule for this to happen.
10. Owning books
Borrowing books from the library fills your home with a host of stories that can lead to new interests. Owning some of your own books also increases your chance of returning to reading for pleasure.
