10 Arvada Press
LIFE
LOCAL
May 5, 2016
CULTURE FA I T H FA M I L Y FOOD HEALTH
Goldenite Crystal Vockel, pictured in the green sweatshirt in the center, reads with her three youngest children, from left, Isaiha, 9, Anthony, 6, and Michael, 13, Zamora in the family’s home. With the help of teachers at Pleasant View Elementary School in Golden who provided some tips and advice, Vockel implemented a strict at-home reading routine for her four children to improve skills and desire to read. Courtesy photo
Next-gen bookworms
Experts, parent gives advice on promoting reading By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
and advice from their teachers to help reads to his mom for 20 minutes, then develop the routine. she reads to him for the remaining 10. “I want to help them grow and suc“It’s been amazing,” she said. “It has ceed,” Vockel said. “If they come up to really helped them tremendously.” hen Golden resident Crysme and want to read, I drop everything.” Donna Walker, Jefferson County Pubtal Vockel caught one of her At least once a lic Library’s director children re-using homework week, the family also of public services assignments to get away with not doing plays games to help A baby might a extra reading, she knew something had learn “trick words,” hold book upside to be done. which are commonly “I realized we had to have a routine,” down, but at least used words the chilshe said. “Even on busy days.” he or she is holddren need to know for So about a year ago, Vockel develing a book. A child school. Vockel likes oped a strict reading schedule for her may be wandering Go Fish or Memory. four children — Anthony, 6, Isaiha, 9, around during stoAlso, there are stickyMichael, 13, and Mickayla, 16. rytime, but at least notes all over the “It was a struggle at first, but now it’s he or she is listenhouse — inside closet routine,” Vockel said. “I don’t even have ing. A toddler may doors or cabinets — to say it — they’re so good about doing giggle as his or her with the trick words it now.” mom or dad sings written on them. Reading to — and with — children “Row, row, row, row “So, whenever every day is a piece of advice parents — Crystal Vockel, your boat” while Anthony opens the may commonly hear from a librarian or dishes, but Golden resident, washing cupboard, he has to teacher. However, not only do librarians at least the child is mother of four paying attention to say the word,” Vockel and teachers stress the importance of reading, parents, such as Vockel, also see said. the words. It took time for the value in it. All of these prochildren to learn their According to a survey of 2,252 mote early literacy. good reading habits, Vockel said, and Americans by the Pew Research Center It’s all to “help them find their way to it hasn’t always been easy. Not only are conducted in 2012, half of the parents the excitement of reading,” Walker said. all four children involved with sports, with children under age 12 read to their “And we know it makes a difference.” Vockel, 30, is a busy mom. She works at child every day, and 58 percent of them Turning on the television is easy, Pleasant View Elementary in Golden and Walker said, but reading with — or to — have children under is studying for her the age of 6. Addia child is an intentional act parents and GED at Red Rocks tionally, 26 percent caregivers can do for the child. Community Colof the parents read “It demonstrates the value of reading lege. She plans to to their child a few to a child when other people take the pursue a degree that times a week. time to read to them,” Walker said. allows her to conEach of the Barb Yeutter Roig, manager of the Jeftinue working with children must read fco library’s Kids and Families outreach children. for 30 minutes a program TALK to your child. Her children inday — in addition to Yeutter Roig was only half-kidding spired her to return whatever homework when she said parents can start reading READ with and to your child. to school. assignments they to their newborns as soon as they get SING with and in front of your child. “They see me bring home. Michael home from the hospital. struggling,” Vockel and Mickayla enjoy WRITE with your child. “It is so important for children as said. “But I knew if reading, so they are soon as they’re born,” she said. “It does PLAY with your child. I didn’t do it, they allowed to read by make a difference. Children need to be wouldn’t do it.” themselves in a bedengaged.” Vockel believes room or other quiet The Kids and Families team visits preit’s important to place. But, after their schools, Head Start programs, daycares reading time, they must either discuss or show interest and be involved with her and preschools in Jefferson County, children. So, when she saw her children summarize the book with their mother. Read continues on Page 11 struggling with reading, she sought tips Isaiha struggles with reading, so he
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I want to help them grow and succeed. If they come up to me and want to read, I drop everything.”
5 EASY TRICKS THAT PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY
WHAT KIDS SAY ABOUT READING Anthony Zamora, 6 Anthony’s favorite books are the “Orson and Taco” series, authored by Charlot Wilson and illustrated by Meredith Johnson, because they’re both “little and big.” “Orson has big stuff, and Taco has little stuff,” Anthony said. Anthony enjoys reading with his mother and his older siblings. “We read together, and it’s fun.” Isaiha Zamora, 9 Isaiha enjoys when his mother reads to him. “She’s good at reading,” he said. In fact, Isaiha likes reading at home more than at school. He likes to read comedy, and especially enjoys Dr. Seuss. “It’s funny,” Isaiha said, “and it rhymes.” Michael Zamora Jr., 13 Although Michael finds playing sports more fun than reading, he likes when a book “draws you in so you want to keep reading it.” Michael reads chapter books, and especially enjoys mysteries because they’re actionpacked and “you don’t know what’s going to happen next.” But he likes letting other people know what’s happening in the book he’s reading, and guessing what might happen. “Even if I’m right, I’m still surprised,” he said. Mickayla Zamora, 16 Mickayla reads for pleasure on a daily basis, and enjoys fiction and reading about sports. Reading is an important skill, she said. “Reading is everywhere — you can’t really avoid it.” The teen likes to challenge herself when reading to improve her vocabulary and skills. “The more you read,” Mickayla said, “the easier and more fun it will be for you.”