Welcome to “Maycember”
As the school year comes to an end, this time of year can feel overwhelming for everyone. The video Welcome to Maycember captures all of the feelings of trying to juggle too many things at once. I know in my house just this week, we’ve had baseball nights, baking for end of year celebrations, field trips, and just wanting to stay outside until dusk because the weather is finally warm out.
Some Reading is Better than No Reading
If reading in your house doesn’t feel like it’s a priority to your child, or you’re just too exhausted to manage it, you’re not alone. Despite the hectic season, we believe it’s important to maintain the nightly reading routine. Have no fear if you are struggling to squeeze reading time in every night; JOYcabulary has some simple tips you can try right away to lessen the pressure!
Books Ready: Have your child select the book they’re going to read at night as part of their morning routine. After your child gets dressed for school, they can place their book on their bed - one less step for the chaotic night. We have books “on deck” so they’re all ready for the week. There is no time for deciding on books! It’s already past their bedtime from all the nightly spring activities.
Set Goals: Create a goal of how many pages need to be read. (Reading stamina differs by age.) For example, on hectic nights, my three year old has a 5-10 page rule in a book like Green Eggs and Ham.
Audio/ Digital Books: You may want one child to select an audiobook to listen to or watch on a device as a nighttime read. (Just be sure to set a time limit)
Look-at Books: For young children, you may have a stack of nonfiction books on a favorite topic to look at while you tuck in the rest of the gang. Place a sticky note or two on the cover. Your child can place the stickie on a page they want to share with you when you come to tuck him or her in. The sticky notes could even be coded: a heart for a favorite page, a question mark for a place where they had a question, or an exclamation mark for a spot that made them say WOW! Book talk is always important in growing oral language!
Poetry: Poems are a perfect short read. You may have an anthology ready-to-go.
Buddy-Up: Have your older child read to your younger child! Great exposure for both.
Writing: Start a nightly journal. My kindergarten daughter loves sticker books! As she waits to get tucked in, she will write in her journal and add stickers as part of her illustrations. This allows me to tuck in my other children. This application of the skills she’s learning in reading is shown in her writing!
Early Summer Reading: Consistency is Key
We want our children to enjoy books and their nightly reading time. Finding a healthy balance is important. Children love to read books they haven’t read before. Local libraries often host earlysummer book fairs offering newly-published, high-interest books at very affordable prices. We understand your child may be having difficulty keeping their nightly reading routine. However children thrive with consistency and routine. Following these simple steps might save your sanity as your child continues to work towards becoming a lifelong reader.We wish you a calm end of the school year filled with memories & JOY!
