Children and Reading are Like Grass and Green Being an educator in her life causes HG Nadel to think that children and reading go together like grass and green. You should never have one without the other. Why are children and reading a perfect match? Because children who read become adults who lead and teach
There is a good reason why reading, writing and arithmetic are foundational subjects in any good educational curriculum. Think about your last week going about whatever it is you do. How many times did you have to do some quick arithmetic in the kitchen or at the store? How many times did you read directions, do research on the internet, read a map or look at road signs? How many times did you write a note or a letter to communicate your thoughts to someone else? We can barely get by in this world without basic skills in those areas. Basic skills are necessary. Important to greater achievements in any society are advanced skills in basic areas. Every course we take for every profession needs a solid base in reading, writing and arithmetic.
Teaching reading begins in early childhood. Actually, some say it begins before birth. Before a child can read, he must be spoken to often. Before we can teach reading to children those children must be read to. Before a child can do math problems, he must know how to read those problems. Before a child can write, he must know the words and their meaning that he intends to communicate.
What are the best times to read to children? When they ask for a story? When we need them to settle down? When they are curious about new ideas or concepts or things they see? When we want to transition from an active day to a quiet evening?