DAVIDSON LIBRARY
Active Reading for Toddlers through Fifth Graders at the Davidson Public Library
Sara Dalton and her son, Max, reading at the Davidson Public Library. (Bill Giduz photo)
Attention, parents of toddlers through fifth graders!
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries (CML) wants you to know that developing your children’s language skills is as easy as “A-B-C.”
It’s a matter of “Active Reading,” a program that will be explained in four weekly workshops at the Davidson Library on March 5, 12, 19, and 26. Each session runs from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. and replaces Monday morning story hours for the month of March.
Active reading involves reading books with children rather than to children. The approach can work with children as young as two and through fifth grade.
The active reading approach improves children’s language skills, vocabulary, and ability to understand what they read on their own.
Active reading calls for an adult to share a picture book with a child and provide the child with multiple opportunities to talk about and engage with the pictures, words, and ideas. The adult’s role is to be an active listener, asking questions and encouraging the child to talk and think about the book.
Active reading can begin even before a book is opened. Look at the cover and ask the child questions such as “What do you think this story will be about? Who is it about? Tell me what’s happening on the cover.”
It’s as easy as “A-B-C.” The “A” stands for “Ask.” While going through the book, ask the child questions like “what?” “how?” “who?” “why?”
The B stands for “build vocabulary.” Learning new words will help kids become stronger readers.
The C stand for “connects to kids’ worlds.” Relate the book to things they already know. “Tell me about the favorite thing you do in the park? Or “It’s raining on this page, what do you like to do in the rain?”
Librarians say that active reading for just 15 minutes, three times a week can make a huge difference in children’s language development.
The Davidson workshops are for parents and caregivers of children ages 2-5, and their children. Registration is required. Call 704-416-4000, or register online. If possible, participants should plan on attending all four sessions.
Bill Giduz
Bill Giduz was the son who followed his father’s footsteps into journalism. He has been involved his entire life with news and photography in schools he attended and jobs he’s held. He believes now that he’s got a few good years left to devote to The News of Davidson.