Looking for a way to spend quality time with the family this holiday season? Want to unplug and have some fun? Books and board games are great ways to get your child to put down the cell phone or video game controller and have some family fun while developing skills that can be transferred to the classroom when back-to-school time comes around.

Books can be a great stocking stuffer and give kids the chance to read material that interests them. Even if your child isn’t an avid recreational reader, comic books or magazines can spark their interest and encourage them to spend some quiet time reading. Reading together as a family is a great way to bond and can inspire discussion on different topics that arise as you read. Take turns reading paragraphs, act out scenes, guess what will happen next, and (if the book is also a movie) watch the film version together once you have finished the book. Encouraging your child to read for pleasure will increase their focus and concentration, expand their vocabulary and literacy skills, and is a hobby the whole family can enjoy.

Board games are also a great way to have fun as a family over the holidays. Although online and video games are often preferred by for our tech-savvy kids, board games are a great way to increase learning skills while having fun. Board games enhance skills such as:

• Problem solving
• Quick thinking
• Vocabulary skills
• Identifying patterns
• Deduction
• Memory
• Decision making
• Teamwork
• Persistence
• Creativity/Imagination

Have some holiday fun with the family this break by dusting off your favourite board game or curling up on the couch with a good book. Who knows, it may even be the start of a great family tradition for the New Year!

If you had to guess what the single most important academic year is for children, what would you say? Junior year of high school? Senior year of college?

Wrong. It’s third grade.

A Time News article states that third grade is the most important academic year because it is the year students move from learning to read to reading to learn.

To read the whole article and to learn more about the crucial academic turning point that occurs in third grade, click here

“This book is so BORING”
“This book is so OLD”
“This book is TERRIBLE”

Heard one (or all) of these sentences come out of your teen’s mouth when referring to required school readings? Are they just being disrespectful and lazy, or do they (maybe) have a point?

Most students won’t reach the end of high school without reading (or being assigned to read) some ‘classic’ literature. The Scarlet Letter, Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, Heart of Darkness, Madame Bovary, and The Catcher in the Rye are just some of the books your teen may be assigned to read. But are these classic novels doing more harm than good to your child’s motivation to read? Are the endless lessons about symbolism, metaphor, and imagery in books they can’t relate to boring students to the point of not wanting to read at all? Or are kids just lacking an appreciation for anything that doesn’t have a screen attached to it?

Unfortunately, students and parents are not going to be able to change what the teacher assigns. So how can you encourage your child to engage with ‘boring, old’ books and not develop distaste for reading completely? Here are some tips:

1. Ask – If children say they don’t like a book that has been assigned, they should be able to articulate why beyond ‘because’. Ask them what they would rather be reading, and why. If they say the main character is ‘stupid’, ask them to which part of the book made them think that. You will quickly realize whether your child is forming engaged opinions or simply spouting opinions without backup.
2. Read – Read the book yourself! Discuss with your child which parts you liked (and which parts bored you too!) If your child is able to tell you specifics (even if they are bashing the book while doing it), at least you know s/he is reading and remembering the story.
3. Find – Often old material is recycled. The same themes can be found in modern movies, books or TV shows that appear in the classics. Your child may be too distracted by the language and archaic references to realize (for example) that the ‘love triangle’ plot in Wuthering Heights between Catherine, Linton, and Heathcliff is also found in the Hunger Games between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale (and many others!).
4. Pay Attention – Students sometimes disguise misunderstanding as dislike. If your child isn’t comprehending what s/he is reading, there is no way s/he is going to enjoy it. The book may not be too boring or old at all; your child may not be at the reading level required to understand and enjoy it. Get him/her the extra help s/he needs so they don’t have to hide behind excuses

What’s your opinion on/experience with students reading ‘classic’ literature in school? Comment below!

By now, the importance of summer learning is well known. Students of all ages need to keep the cognitive wheels turning in order to maintain their learning momentum and not experience the backward summer slide.

There are an entire summer’s worth of ideas available to keep kids busy all summer long–the sky’s the limit! But don’t let all the options overwhelm you. We’ve chosen our top 3 simple summer activities that should be on every family’s To-Do List. Maintaining academic momentum over the summer has never been easier!

1. READ! READ! READ!

Put less focus on WHAT is being read and focus on making regular, habitual reading part of the daily summer routine.  Novels, comics, magazines, blogs…  it doesn’t matter so long as you’ve got a reading routine. Want to take it to the next level?  Talk about what you have just read. Make connections, and look up unknown words. Research the book online, or draw illustrations for what you’ve just read—the key is to think actively about the reading.

2. WRITE!

Writing is an extension of reading–they go hand-in hand. Whether it’s keeping a scrapbook, writing in a journal, or blogging online, daily writing helps to develop those critical communication skills that lead to great essays and even better grades. Need some ideas about what to write? Start a short story and add to it every day, or simply recount the day’s activities. It doesn’t have to be well-crafted literature to help keep skills sharp. So pick up a pen, and grab some paper and write someone a letter, even if it’s only to yourself.

3. PLAY! 

Don’t underestimate the value of old-fashioned board games and puzzles.  Whether it’s Sudoku, Crosswords, or traditional jigsaw puzzles, games teach necessary higher-level thinking skills such as strategy and planning. Plus, they help develop focus and attention, and often incorporate critical school skills such as math and reading. Best of all, they can offer hours of family-friendly fun with a little  bit of learning mixed in.

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 readers requires more than telling them that literacy skills are important.

The Importance of Reading: A Quick Review

Good reading habits are not just about developing strong literacy skills in the quest for good grades—reading is a habit that has benefits for students and adults alike:

•    Reading increases vocabulary and vocabulary has been shown to be a key indicator of future school success (Did you know that studies show that vocabulary use in grade one predicts more than 30% of 11th grade reading comprehension?)
•    Reading is THE core skill that is used in learning every subject in school
•    Reading has been shown to activate several different areas of the brain simultaneously
•    Reading can improve social skills
•    Reading books (not EReaders or off a monitor of any sort) can cut back on the amount of time spent in front of media and technology (up to 7 hours a day)

How to Encourage Reading . The Basics:

•    Make books available to kids.
•    Go to the Library.
•    Gifts books as gifts.
•    Lead by example—kids become readers when they have a role model who reads.
•    Read a book as a family—get multiple copies for all members.
•    Read to young children every night.
•    Try a new genre.
•    Read anything—cookbooks, magazines, comics, textbooks…
•    Get a nightlight for your kids’ beds.
•    Put a book on the bedside table.
•    Read books from a series.
•    Read books from the same author.
•    Read books that are becoming movies.
•    Read scary books and up the thrill quotient!
•    Have a school friend recommend a book.
•    Ask the schoolteacher what the other kids in the class are reading.
•    Listen to audio books in the car.

Advanced Tips:

But what if you’ve tried all these tips and your child is still more slug worm that bookworm? We came across these great tricky tips that just might help:

Give kids banned books—or let them read above their level… anything that sparks their interest. Tell them the book is bad (for whatever reason) and they’ll only want to read it more. Sounds like Psychology 101!

Stop reading right a good part—leave the story right before the climax, and guaranteed your child will be curious enough to read in order to find out what happens next!

This tip from blogger Eden Kennedy of the blog Fussy might be the best tip yet: Read something funny to yourself and laugh about it.  When your child asks what’s funny, simply tell him that he won’t get it.  Watch this video of Eden explain how she gets her son, who would rather play video games, involved in reading—tricky!  And awesome!

Do you have sneaky ways to get your kids to read? We’d love to hear them!  Leave us a comment or share them on Twitter or Facebook.

More articles about reading:

POW! Comic Books Punch Up Reading Abilities

Why Phonics Builds Better Readers

Harry Potter is Magic for Kids’ Literacy

You asked. We answered!
This question comes from our archives…

Question:
How do I help my four-year-old son to develop a love of reading? He struggles to sound words out, and doesn’t seem to be interested in reading on his own. How can I help him learn to love reading?

Answer:
Books can be our best friends. But to struggling children, they can also be the enemy. Children are aware of our expectations, and they recognize our desire for them to read. To avoid disappointing us, children with reading issues may just push books aside for activities that don’t require so much effort.

Strong reading skills are the foundation for learning, so they are a critical skill to develop early on. Luckily, an aversion to reading at a young age can easily be overcome.

Sometimes different approaches are the solution to getting reluctant readers to embrace books and reading. Our Little Readers program is developed to help children as young as three learn to become strong, competent readers who love books! We help kids learn the sounds that make up the building blocks of our language. Kids become able to sound out words and develop confidence in their ability to try to read new words.

Remember that learning to read can be a struggle for many children, but if you give your son the skills that he needs to be a successful reader, a love of reading will follow eventually. Continue to make an effort to share reading time with your son, and encourage him every step of the way!

——-

Do you have an education question that you’d like ask us? Leave your question in the comments, or visit us on Twitter to ask your question there!

We already know why it’s important to make learning part of your holidays, so, we’ve compiled 12 ideas to keep your kids mentally engaged over the holiday season. Check in often for new ideas, and if you have your own idea, we’d love to hear it!

Day 7: Go to the Library

Libraries are more than just a place to locate books. For the developing reader and/or the student of any age, the library can help develop a certain sense of discovery and motivation to learn. Whether it’s researching a topic and locating the corresponding books, or discovering a book about an unknown subject simply by wandering the stacks, the experience of going to the library and borrowing books can help kids feel a sense of ownership in the process reading and holiday learning.

Tip 1: Get Crafty Together
Tip 2: Snuggle Up With a Book
Tip 3: Take a Hike
Tip 4: Play Video Games
Tip 5: Roll the Dice
Tip 6: Use Your School Agenda

We already know why it’s important to make learning part of your holidays, so, with the holidays fast approaching, we compiled 12 ideas to keep your kids mentally engaged over the holiday season. Check in often for new ideas, and if you have your own idea, we’d love to hear it!

Day 2: Snuggle Up With A Book.

Reading is one of the greatest ways to work on school skills over the holidays. Books not only tell stories of great adventures they help media-saturated children unplug. It helps children learn how to sustain their attention and develop vocabulary and reading comprehension—all great skills that are necessary in the classroom.

Need some ideas on what books are appropriate for what age? Visit Family Education’s reading list for some great book suggestions broken down by age groups

Tip One: Get Crafty Together

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 time.

There are multitudes of resources that speak to the issue, and even websites that are geared just to help boys improve their reading performance in—and out of—the classroom.

According to the CCL, comic books are just the tool to spark boys’ interested in the written word. But just what is about comic books that hold boys’ attention? And, are comic books enough to help boys close the reading gap?

According to studies, comics appeal to boys’ more visual nature. The graphic images help to dynamically add dimension to the story. Even though the amount of space allotted for actual words is limited, the narrative is not hindered by a minimal word count.

A Science Daily article says that boys are not just looking at the pictures, and that comics impart the same benefits of reading any other books.

Websites such as Getting Boys To Read say that comic books are very important educational tools. Not only do they appeal to boy’s visual nature with bright images, and male-geared story lines, they teach literacy devices such as metaphor, tension, and tone.

But, in order for comic books to help boys close the reading gender gap, they have to be available and recognized as school-worthy reading material.

The facts are:
• Reading and literacy skills are critical to a successful education.
• During the early and middle school years, boys trail behind girls when it comes to reading.
• Boys tend to have a greater affinity towards comic books.
• Comic books can help boys increase their reading skills.

It’s important that the experience of reading comics is not too easy for readers, which is quite often the concern, given the limited text and the eye-catching images. Young readers need to be challenged to think actively about what they are reading, and to develop the skills needed for deep, sustained reading.

While gender differences in reading abilities exist, it’s important to not create gender-based reading stereotypes. Boys should never be told that they wouldn’t enjoy a text-only book, or girls that comics are just for boys. Reading skills are very individual, and either sex can defy gender-based learning challenges despite genetics(I.E. girls are bad at math; boys lag in reading), and become successful students.

Comic books in the classroom can provide a dynamic reading experience for girls and boys alike. And for boys who are lagging behind in their reading aptitudes, comic books could be just the ticket to spark a love of reading that helps them take the next step in their reading journey.

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 about right now? By re-introducing school-year habits and routines well before school begins, and by engaging in activities that kick the brain into high gear, kids naturally shift out of the summer mindset and get ready for a year of learning.

Our 10 Back-To-School Tips help you get your entire family on track for a better school year…starting right now.

1. Up and At ‘Em. The first bell of the school year rings early—sometimes, much earlier than kids and parents would like. Take the fumbling and grumbling out of school mornings by setting a wake-up schedule now. If kids don’t have an alarm clock, why not get them their own and let them take responsibility for waking up in the morning?
2. Hit the sheets. Nothing makes an early morning routine worse than a lack of sleep the night before. Plus, kids need a full night’s sleep to stay mentally alert all day in class. Start implementing bedtimes…even for older kids. It makes learning (and morning routines) that much easier.
3. Good Grub. Research continually shows the importance of eating a healthy breakfast, especially for students in class all day. Without proper morning nutrition, kids can feel drowsy and distracted. You want your kid focused on the teacher, not on his/her growling belly.
4. What to wear, what to wear. Avoid last-minute searches for green socks, or favourite baseball caps by picking out the next day’s clothes the night before. If you are selecting the wardrobe, give kids a few options and let them choose. They’ll feel a sense of inclusion and responsibility when they feel that they have a say in the decision-making.
5. I’ll take that to go, please. Unless you pay for school lunches, midday grub usually comes packed from home. Get into the habit of planning lunches the day before, whether it’s leftovers, or simple sandwiches, and take the question mark out of lunchtime meal planning. It’s one less thing that you’ll have to worry about in the morning.
6. We now return to our regular-scheduled programming. The school day is all about scheduled timing. Start times. End times. Recess. Lunch. As much as possible, follow a schedule that mimics the school day. This includes wake up times, bedtimes, playtimes, TV time, and lunchtime. Don’t forget to make time in the day for learning too!
7. TV off, homework on. During the school year, TV and computers are kids’ biggest homework distraction. Start eliminating that bad homework habit by turning off the TV during the after-school hours, coming to the table, and engaging in some sort of brain-challenging activity.
8. Read. Reading is probably the single best way to keep kids mentally active all year long. Plus, it’s a great way for kids to practice sustaining their attention span, to build their vocabulary, and to develop their reading comprehension skills.
9. Use the ‘S’ word. Help kids get in the school frame of mind by talking about school. How many days are left until the first day? What are the kids looking forward to? What are they nervous about? What is the best memory from last year? Kids may need some conversational prompting, so reference highlights from last year and be sure to keep it positive to build excitement!
10. Something else? Okay so we could use your help thinking of a 10th item to round out our list! How are you getting your family ready for back-to-school? We’d love to hear your family’s tips! Share your back-to-school ideas in the comments section below. If we pick your idea as our 10th tip, we’ll send you Oxford Learning back-to-school swag!