Truth, Love And Books

Recently I have been doing some research for a project. Basically, I have been reading about the benefits of well, reading. I've been particularly interested in my children's generation (dubbed Gen Z) and their inclination to read. And because I'm a Millennial mama, wouldn't you know it, I did a quick google search. The stats are pretty telling. Overall the youngsters are largely tech-savvy, smart phone wizzes but rather book daft.* GenZ kids certainly know how to read but it's the desire to read that is acutely way down. This really should not be too surprising. It's the human default to do what is easy. The modern culture is so filled with quick, painless entertainment that it's no question reading and reading-aloud as a family are increasingly becoming legitimate past times. Reading is hard work. Especially if you've never done it to the point where it becomes enjoyable. But let us not conflate hard and bad. I've found that regularly reading alou...

My oldest child and I tend to butt heads. We are both, dare I say, a smidge alike temperamentally. Both outspoken yet deep thinkers, passionate but stubborn. Teaching her to read will always be one of my life's most proud accomplishments. Really, it was a joint struggle but amidst the work, I had a deep-seated fear not that she wouldn't eventually read well, but  that she would ultimately hate  stories and reading.   It felt like a long year and a half of tedium. When I re-shifted my focus on bringing more delight in our homeschool reading, her fluency took off.  She was off to the races ever since the end of first grade and it has been such a gift to see her relish reading. One of the keys to help her enjoy book time has been having a wide variety of new, incoming picture books. I'm at the library more often than the grocery store(PTL for click-list)! And that's the way I like it.   Even though May feels like cram season, cram before our state testing that is, ...

Ahh yes. The time of year to pull out the picnic blankets and a stack of books. I have high hopes to spend a considerable amount of time at our local metro parks with our school reading in tow. But also, little Mr. into-everything-spitfire will be joining us so the only reading we may do while out and about may consist solely of the audiobook in the car ride over. And that’s okay. Happy Spring! Here’s what we are reading. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant is a family favorite. It’s an early reader and it’s well loved by all. Including mom, dad and little man. It’s hilarious. There are three short stories. We can’t get enough Poppleton. Our Science reading. The Let’s Read and Find Out Science series has been perfect for my 8 year old and 6 year old twins. It’s easy, interesting and books can be reserved through our local library system. The picture book historical biographies by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire are great for early elementary history reading. My girls have been fascinated by ...