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6 Benefits of Rereading Books Over and Over Again

4/5/2022

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​This is actually the title of a great article I stumbled upon and I love how succinctly it puts into words exactly what I feel as if as a parent and teacher I've known for years. It's also something that's now backed up by research.

In the article, Jodie Rodriguez points out that the act of rereading a favorite book multiple times may at times seem tortuous, but once you understand the multiple benefits, the rereading is definitely worth the pain. One of the biggest takeaways from multiple readings of the same title is the amount of knowledge a child takes away with each reading. This knowledge may be in the form of new vocabulary, an understanding of a plot structure, a sense of compassion or empathy,  improved memory skills, and best of all the ability to build levels of additional knowledge and comprehension skills with each reading. 

I visualize this building of knowledge as a layering of sorts... layering with threads that pull through making multiple connections both within and outside the book. This type of learning sticks. This type of learning creates thinkers. This type of learning develops creators, not simply consumers.

Rodriguez goes on to discuss the how the act of reading actually creates readers. Rereading a good book reinforces a love of the written word and eventually gives your child a "thirst" for books. This "thirst" often results in a child picking out the boks he/she wants to have read to them. Choosing books on their own gives children a sense of ownership in their learning.

Forget about the educational aspects, what has always meant the most to me is the bonding provided by daily snuggles for reading. Creating a bedtime rituals quickly become both the parent and child's favorite time of day.  If you're rereading a title, it's almost as if you and your child are visiting an old friend.

​I probably haven't done the article justice, you should definitely take the time to read it yourself.
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Blocks Can Build More Than Just Towers

3/5/2022

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The daughter of my best friend is the mother to two beautiful girls.  I few years ago, I gave said girls what I felt was the most beautiful set of  building blocks I'd ever come across. Some of you may not know me as well as others, but I love giving gifts... not just any gifts, but unusual, fun gifts that are often unexpected. Though I did think this particular gift of building blocks was cool, I didn't (until today) consider it to be one of my "greatest hits".
However, today, this same incredible mom sent me a text to share that this block set (now 3 years old) is still played with on an almost daily basis by both the girls and often the parents as well! Her sweet text got me thinking. I went straight to my computer to read about the benefits of children playing with blocks.
Just for reference, here's an image and link to the blocks I gifted:
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FAO SCHWARZ 150 Piece Wooden Castle Building Blocks Set, Toy Solid Pine Wood Block Playset Kit for Kids
I've always been a huge fan of any toy that doesn't require batteries or an electrical outlet. I say this because I always wanted my children to do the thinking and imagining... not have a device feed it to them. Thus, blocks have always ranked high on any list of what I consider to be the best educational toys. Playing with blocks falls under the research topic of constructive or manipulative play.  After doing a lot of reading and thinking, here's my personal list and explanation of 15 things playing with blocks can teach a child.
  1. Patience - Playing with blocks is a lesson in patience and resilience. This lesson is sometimes a tough one for young children, but in time, after a few failed attempts, a single successful attempt followed by a few more, eventually leads to a level of patience with the process. It's what keeps a child coming back for more. Otherwise, why even try?

  2. Attention - Unlike other forms of play, building with blocks requires an attention to detail. Where do I place this next block? What might happen if I put this one here? How did she do that?  What made it fall last time? ...

  3. Tolerance - Sharing block play with a sibling, friend, or best of all, you, is a great way to build a tolerance of the ideas of others. Will this come easily? Not always. Is this an important trait to foster? Yes! You may actually be the best playmate to help your child learn to respect and tolerate the ideas of others. Start with each of you having your own set of blocks and building on your own. As your child observes you successfully building, he might become more comfortable with implementing a few ideas you share.

  4. Cooperation - Cooperation and tolerance go hand in hand. Once your child learns to accept the ideas of others, he may then be open to the cooperation that's required to bring the idea to fruition. Again, starting out with two sets of blocks (one for each child playing) and allowing the children to observe one another is often the best way to move towards an eventual cooperative venture.

  5. Resilience - This is a tough life skill for some children. Block play is a great venue for teaching this skill. It's not a straightforward win/lose environment like games, but instead more of a trial and error situation. AS a toddler, my son was the worst when it came to loosing a game, but with blocks, there was always another chance to be successful waiting in the pile of that toppled tower. After experiencing a tower collapse he soon learned that overcoming this blow was as simple as gathering up the blocks and trying again.

  6. Creativity - Fostering creativity is one of my favorite things to do with kids and it can be done in so many different ways. A trial and error method, or copy and then change a model to make it your own both work well to accomplish this task. Why not use your phone's camera to snap and later create a virtual museum of your child's creations by creating a Google Slide Show or PowerPoint presentation that can later be emailed for others to enjoy.

  7. Intentionality / Focus - The ability to focus and be intentional grows stronger with age. Intentionality  involves setting goals and then working to meet those goals. This requires a few of the other aspects already mentioned: attention, patience, resilience and at times cooperation. At a very young age, you provide the goal: Build me a tower that's ten blocks high. Later, prior to play, ask your child what he hopes to build and label that as the goal. 

  8. Scientific Concepts - Working and learning while building with blocks is all about experimentation. It's cause and effect at its best. Your child may not realize it, but through block play, the scientific method (question, hypothesis, data gathering, and drawing conclusions) is constantly cycling through each endeavor.

  9. Mathematical Concepts - Without a dingle formal lesson, blocks teach children about size, shapes, counting, measurement, patterns, space, balance, and much more . It's truly an early peek into the concepts of mathematical thinking.

  10. Imaginative Play - The power of imaginative play cannot be ignored. So much of what children do and view each day is pre-constructed and simply delivered to them - video games, television shows, learning apps, even lessons within a preschool environment.  Where will we get our new innovators from if we don't allow our children's minds to roam and come up with their own ideas?  Building blocks offer an escape of sorts. There's no right or wrong, no rules, no requirements. 

  11. Physical Development - Building with blocks enhances a child's spatial awareness abilities and fine motor skills. Additionally, building with blocks helps to refine eye-hand coordination skills.

  12. Language and Vocabulary - Block play offers countless opportunities for discussion and story telling connected with each new creation. This in turn leads to vocabulary development - one of the biggest keys to later success as your child enters school.  Ask questions or have your child tell you what's happening within a project. Who lives here?  What happens here? What does this part do? How does this work?

  13. Problem Solving - Block play builds problem solving skills through trial and error. Try not to jump in a fix things. Let the tower fall, allow your child to realize there's not a door... solving problems on your own teaches so much more than always having problems solved for you.

  14. Self Confidence / Self Esteem - Picking up on the previous topic of problem solving, kids love it when they can do things on their own. Each problem solved, each idea brought to life, each story told leads to your child developing a level of self confidence in his abilities and thoughts. Sadly, I can report firsthand that  self confidence and self esteem aren't present when children enter primary school.

  15. Independence - This final skill builds upon all the others and as parents it's what we are always working towards even if it does hurt at times to not be needed quite as much.  Success within block play encourages eventual independence and believe me when I tell you that an independent toddler becomes a successful problem solving classroom student. You goal should be to foster the development of a confident self-starter that's not afraid to take a chance, ask questions, take on challenges... not a child that needs hand holding or coaching with even the smallest of tasks.

Want to learn more? Click HERE to read what the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) reported on the power of playing with blocks.
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I'm Just a Little Bit Obsessed with Sarah Mackenzie

2/5/2022

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If you read my last post, you've already heard me gush a little about a book I've been reading, The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie. I love everything about the book and I totally agree with where this woman's head is when writing about what truly matters.

Not only has she written a great book, but she also has a beautiful website &  a podcast that I listen to at least 3x a week as I try to catch up. The website and podcast share a name,  The Read-Aloud Revival. I've made a list of all the past episodes I want to listen to and I'm not kidding when I say that there were over 70 episodes on that list.

Despite the HUGE age difference, if Sarah and I were ever to meet, I know that we'd be instant friends. Sarah and I speak the same love language and that love language. We both know that what truly matters are books, really good books with words that roll off the tongue and pull in both the reader and those listening. Books that become happy memories. It's also important to make time to read those books with someone you love dearly.  Believe me when I say that time marches on, and reading aloud to your children my friends is one way to freeze it for just a few moments and drink it all in.


As she puts it best, "Here's what I know: you are the best person to help your kids learn and grow, and home is the best place to fall in love with books."

She's got me by the heart.

If you haven't checked out her site or listened to her podcast, do so as soon as possible. My favorite episode thus far has been #162 which features Australian author Mem Fox.
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I LOVE This Book !

9/4/2021

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I've been quarantining with my husband this week.
He's been living in the basement (don't worry, it's nice...
I swear) and I've been living upstairs.
​
​It was cool for a day, but I wasn't the one who'd tested positive. What I soon discovered was that this would be a great time to catch up on everything I've been meaning to read for the past few years.

I always have a pile of "To Be Read" books waiting for me. I've had this book, The Read-Aloud Family for a few years, but have never found the time to sit down spend some time with it. The first few pages, the ones that come before the title page, are quite impressive. The author, Sarah Mackenzie had glowing reviews from many of my favorite children's authors.

I will come back frequently to write about a my favorite nuggets of wisdom that are scattered throughout this book. For now, I'll just say that Myth #4 on page 116 is something I learned early on... It's not necessary for your kids to be sitting at your feet staring up at you with glowing faces as you read to them. Sitting still is hard for me, and I've had years of practice!  Just as people learn in a wide variety of ways, kids (and adults) listen in different ways as well.  So, allow your child to doodle, hang upside down off the end of the sofa, color, or pace. or crawl. It doesn't matter.  It's the connection that matters and while it may not look like it at first, believe me, they're listening (and remembering)

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This Poem Made Me Wish My Kids Were Little Again

9/3/2021

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Richard Peck is one of my favorite authors. His books are mostly aimed at middle grade students, so I was surprised to find that he'd authored this beautiful poem. Read it a few times and allow the words to sink in... maybe even consider sharing this post with a friend.

Twenty Minutes a Day
by Richard Peck
Read to your children
Twenty minutes a day;
You have the time,
And so do they.
Read while the laundry is in the machine;
Read while the dinner cooks;
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm
And reach for the library books.
Hide the remote,
Let the computer games cool,
For one day your children will be off to school;
Remedial? Gifted? You have the choice;
Let them hear their first tales
In the sound of your voice.
Read in the morning;
Read over noon;
Read by the light of
Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together,
Sitting close as you’ll fit,
Till a small voice beside you says,
“Hey, don’t quit.”
​​

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My favorite part of each guide has to be the comprehension questions. We read together all the time, but  I never know what questions to ask. These guides have the basic questions, but also, deeper thought provoking questions that really get my kids  thinking!     Andrea Lubitz - Charlotte, NC        
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