Reluctant Readers to Book Worms: Tricky Tips to Making Any Kid a Reader
Reading is an important life-long skill. And, developing strong reading habits from an early age sets the stage for continued good reading habits throughout life. These are the simple facts. But, even if we know WHY reading skills are important to develop from a young age, often the process of getting kids to become enthusiastic […] […]
POW! Comic Books Punch Up Reading Abilities
The Canadian Council on Learning recently published a report that says that comic books can help close the reading gender gap. When it comes to reading, studies have shown repeatedly that boys trail behind girls. This is not a new idea. The gender gap in school success has been on educators’ radar for quite some […] […]
A Better School Year Begins NOW!
When it comes to back-to-school prep, getting kids ready to head back to the classroom involves more than just new school supplies and an updated wardrobe. Kids need to get mentally psyched up for the return to the classroom. But, when do you start back-to school prep? A few days before? Maybe a week? How […] […]
Pick Up a Book and Pick Up Better Habits!
One of the easiest ways to keep young minds active during breaks from school is by reading. Reading books—in the old-fashioned, alone and quiet sense—does more than simply help to develop a strong vocabulary. Reading helps today’s media-saturated children learn how to unwind and slow down. Spending quality time with a good book helps children […] […]
Back to School Tip #5
For a Better Start to the School Year While it may still be summer, school will be back in session before you know it! Help your child beat the summer brain drain and start the new school year off right with a few small tweaks to your family’s summer routine and help from Oxford Learning. […] […]
Practical Literacy Tips
Practical tips for the everyday world to increase literacy and become a life-long book-lover Introduce books and reading early in life Play games involving letters and sounds Create a habit of reading—make it part of your everyday routine Read the same book together, or read separately, but at the same time Discuss what you are […] […]
Reading Comprehension and the Classroom
After 35 years of working with kids, we know that most of the problems that young students encounter at school can be traced back to their literacy skills, and in particular, reading comprehension. What is Reading Comprehension? Reading comprehension is the ability to read a sentence and understand its meaning. It is the ability to […] […]
How to Get Your Kids to Read More
Ask any random group of kids about reading and they’ll tell you that it’s boring. Reading is old news—a holdover from a bygone era. Remember when children strained their vision reading by candlelight or by flashlight under the covers? Those classic images of childhood are relics. Kids today will more likely be remembered for their […] […]
Harry Potter Book Magic for Kid’s Literacy
We’ve talked a lot about the importance of literacy on this blog and how traditional children’s leisure activities (like reading a good book, for example) are on the decline in today’s digital playground. That being said, children’s literacy scored a major victory this past weekend thanks to the release of the final Harry Potter book. […] […]
It’s Children’s Book Week in Canada!
Last week was children’s book week in the US, this week it is book week in Canada—writing contests, author readings, book giveaways, read-ins… what a great way to promote literacy in young readers! It’s reading and fun combined. Canada’s book week is the only bilingual literacy event in the nation. To find out more about […] […]