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Reading and Writing Are Fundamental (9/8/2008)

How to Become a Better Reader and Writer
By Tammy Simmons, M.S., CCC-SLP, ACCESS Group Inc. CEO/Co-Founder, and Janice Edmonson, M.S.,CCC-SLP, ACCESS Group Inc. Technology and Resources Coordinator

We live in a culture where we spend a lot of time doing things. Children are spending 22-28 hours a week watching television. We also have hectic schedules filled with activities-sports, lessons, parties, sleep-overs, church and homework. When you have free time, you're exhausted. It is easier to do something more passive, and we are less likely to open a book and read.

Experts in education agree, many schools have not done a good job of helping students experience the pleasures of reading and writing. When we feel that we aren’t good at something, we often do not chose it as an activity in which to participate. Reading is a skill that must be actively practiced. The simple fact that people are not reading often makes it more likely that they will not become strong readers. If we agree that anything you become good at takes practice, then reading takes practice; we have to develop this skill. 

Young children start out with the reading process by sounding out words and recognizing words to read text. From the very beginning, we have to make sure they know what they are reading about. This process of understanding what you read is comprehension and is the key to gaining a firm educational foundation. To become a better reader, you need to read smarter, not faster. By comprehending what you read, you become a more efficient and better reader. Since reading and thinking are closely related, we must use good “thinking skills” as we read to be a more efficient reader. It is important to analyze and evaluate information as you read. The evaluation process focuses on comprehending and understanding text, or “using” information that we read for a particular purpose. Whether we are reading to learn a process, gain additional knowledge or for enjoyment, if we do not comprehend what we are reading, then we are just calling out words. 

There are some things you can do before you ever start reading a book to set the stage for a positive experience. Preview the content of the book by looking at the cover, illustrations, summary, chapter headings and table of contents before reading. This gives the reader some prior knowledge to hold on to as they begin. Predicting what the book will be about builds anticipation for the experience. Learning about the context, setting or special vocabulary of the story allows children to build visual imagery and taps prior knowledge that will help them engage in the story. 

With younger children, talk about the cover and the pictures of a book before reading. Make predictions about what the story will be about. After reading students can talk about what they have read and illustrate ideas from the story. Illustrations provide a link between reading and writing. Illustration is the first stage in the creative writing process. Young children begin telling stories with pictures before they can read and write. By talking about the characters, setting and plot, you can deepen the understanding of a book. Often reading together allows for discussion that strengthens the “thinking” process. Many books for young readers have practical life lessons. It is a natural time for parents and children to discuss the book as a family. Reading is a time for parents and children to connect through a piece of literature. 

Having a strong foundation for reading will positively impact the writing process. Just like reading, writing is an active process that takes practice. Students must learn to use prior knowledge, brainstorm, organize information, create, edit and publish. This is a process, and it cannot be done in one night. There is not a quick fix to becoming a better reader or writer. 

Important Notes:

•Reading is an investment of time 

•Precursor to writing 

•Builds vocabulary, background knowledge, visual imagery 

•Builds creativity and allows you to explore other places 

•Helps develop spelling, grammar and sentence structure. 

We are more successful readers and writers when we have prior knowledge about a subject. Reading helps build prior knowledge. You can also gain prior knowledge from video, experience or interviews. After gathering information, the next step is to take information and brainstorm about the topic. Organizing this information into a format that encourages writing is crucial to writing. Many students fail to plan before starting to write. Using an outline or diagram that organizes information helps students with the process of getting their ideas on paper. The rough draft must be edited for content, grammar, spelling and organization of thoughts. Finally, it is time to publish! There are a variety of formats to publish work making the whole process more enjoyable. Technology offers many formats to publish work. Using technology is not only motivating, but takes the writing process to a whole new level. By combining pictures, illustrations, video clips, text and recorded speech, families can create multimedia projects. This is engaging, fun and can build reading, writing, comprehension and technology skills. 

Software to motivate students to write:  

•Kid Pix  

•Kidspiration or Inspiration 

•MovieMaker 

•Apple iLife Suite 

•Microsoft PowerPoint 

•Microsoft Word 

•Slide shows or electronic photo albums/scrapbook 

•Blogs, vlogs or Web site 

Top 10 Tips for Parents 

1. Model reading and writing for pleasure. Read and write with your kids. 

2. Pick a time each day to read with your kids. 

3. Find times to do projects that involve reading and writing. For example: Research vacation trips and journal each night about what you do on vacation. Write thank you notes to friends and family for gifts. Read books about things that kids are already interested in (pets, sports, etc.)

4. Spend time with a book. Explore the book, talk about it and make it a part of your time together. This will link a pleasurable experience with reading and cause you to engage in thinking and discussion time with your children. 

5. Make reading a natural option to how to spend your free time. Use a rainy day as a perfect time to read a good book.

6. Encourage your kids to keep a journal or diary.

7. Make a family history. Involve the whole family. Interview grandparents, and create an album of pictures and stories.

8. Kids can write their own autobiography or memoir each year – complete with a self-portrait. It is fun to compare these each year. And, it can be added to your family history book!

9. Write a family Christmas or holiday letter. 

10. Make it fun! Your child will not enjoy reading if you don’t! 

Some students need extra help with the reading and writing process. Most students who are in the bottom half of the readers in first grade are still in the bottom half in fifth grade. Some students need specific instruction from a professional to gain these skills. Reading is the foundation for academic success. If you are worried about your child’s reading development, talk to your child’s teacher or consult a professional. Instruction from a skilled professional using a multi-sensory phonics approach is recommended for students who struggle greatly.

ACCESS Group Inc. offers complete educational evaluations and a resource center for families. The resources include educational technology consultations and tutoring for reading and writing.  Highly trained professionals use a multi-sensory phonetic approach that assists students with sounding out words, reading, spelling, comprehension and writing. The use of educational technology often assists students with bridging the gap between performance and potential. Specific educational technology can assist students with strategies for more effective reading and writing. For more information about evaluation and tutoring services for struggling readers and writers, contact Beth Rice, admissions coordinator, at 501-217-8600.