tag:theconversation.com,2011:/africa/topics/early-readers-78439/articlesEarly readers – The Conversation2022-03-21T19:04:19Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1786422022-03-21T19:04:19Z2022-03-21T19:04:19ZOvercoming bias in the next generation: 5 unmissable Australian queer picture books<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/452072/original/file-20220315-131692-ickbln.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Queer parents and their children rarely see families like theirs in books for early and pre-readers. </p>
<p>In 2021, the Children’s Book Council of Australia <a href="https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2021">shortlisted</a> a queer picture book in its Early Childhood Award <a href="https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s13384-020-00423-7?sharing_token=5oFCWXBLcWcp-p9ZSHGCNfe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4sxRC_Ey6dgww7Jw4XWqj_rUz25RR3e5uClPn__Mmjzqr_fU9pRwgnealIGmhg5Sj1iUkX-mpzSSy0-tjvbQJQT3JU4_tJtYirOiZe9EEZoJ8f_3dd_LtxYRevP_VMtCw%3D">for the first time</a>: <a href="https://www.scribblekidsbooks.com/books/p/whos-your-real-mum">Who’s Your Real Mum?</a> by Bernadette Green and Anna Zobel.</p>
<p>Awards like this have a huge influence on sales, readership, and the books that are taught in schools. The teachers’ notes and classroom activities provided for most shortlisted books are added incentives for early childhood and primary school educators to adopt these books.</p>
<p>This landmark shortlisting inspired us to look for more titles that engage deeply with the diverse communities that make up Australian society, including queer families. We enlisted the help of the State Library of NSW, inviting library staff across NSW to share diverse books from their collections. </p>
<p>We’ve selected five unmissable reads that centre on queer stories from <a href="https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/diverse-picture-books">the resulting Diverse Picture Books list</a>, now live online. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/queer-young-adult-fiction-isnt-all-gloomy-realism-here-are-5-uplifting-books-to-get-you-started-141125">Queer young adult fiction isn't all gloomy realism. Here are 5 uplifting books to get you started</a>
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<h2>Bias learned from an early age</h2>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/queer-young-adult-fiction-isnt-all-gloomy-realism-here-are-5-uplifting-books-to-get-you-started-141125">Queer representation in fiction</a> can provide education, validation and affirmation to young people. It also helps to normalise queerness. </p>
<p>Because bias is learned from a very early age, it’s important for early and pre-readers to access the stories and experiences of queer families, and to begin the work of <a href="https://theconversation.com/teaching-primary-school-children-about-lgbt-relationships-is-the-government-taking-the-right-approach-138486">overcoming those biases</a>. </p>
<p>Books about queer families provide a window into that experience for those outside it, promoting wider acceptance, understanding or celebration of such families. They also hold up a mirror for the many children living in such families, giving them the opportunity to see their lives reflected in the literature they read. </p>
<p>So, whether you are looking through a window or holding up a mirror, here are five picture books about family, identity and the queer experience:</p>
<h2>1. <a href="https://www.scribblekidsbooks.com/books/p/whos-your-real-mum">Who’s Your Real Mum?</a> written by Bernadette Green, illustrated by Anna Zobel</h2>
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<p>This picture book challenges the stereotypes of what makes a family. It addresses a common question that same-sex parents and their children inevitably face: <em>Who’s your real mum?</em> </p>
<p>Elvi has two mums and her curious friend Nicholas constantly asks which mum is the “real” one. As Nicholas persists, Elvi comes up with increasingly outlandish, imaginative responses. Ultimately, Elvi teaches Nicholas the beautiful lesson that the role of a parent is far more than just biology. </p>
<h2>2. <a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/Wrestle-Maya-Newell-Charlotte-Mars-and-Gus-Skattebol-James-illustrated-by-Tom-Jellett-9781760296810">Wrestle</a> by Maya Newell, Charlotte Mars, Gus Skattebol-James, illustrated by Tom Jellett</h2>
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<p>Inspired by the award-winning documentary, <a href="https://thegaybyproject.com/">Gayby Baby</a>, Wrestle is a story of queer family, identity and challenging stereotypes. </p>
<p>It explores the broad spectrum of “maleness” through main character Gus’s obsession with wrestling. Gus ultimately arrives at the realisation that there is more than one way to be a boy and most definitely more than one way to be a wrestler. </p>
<p>This book is also a must-read for any family wanting to learn more about the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-histories-of-mardi-gras-and-gay-tourism-in-australia-are-intertwined-92733">Sydney Mardi Gras</a>. </p>
<h2>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54557593-my-shadow-is-pink">My Shadow is Pink</a> by Scott Stuart</h2>
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<p>My Shadow is Pink draws on the author-illustrator’s life, and his relationship with his son, to challenge gender stereotypes. The book tells the story of a young boy whose pink shadow is different to his dad’s blue shadow. The boy loves ponies, princesses, and putting on dresses, and while he is initially embarrassed about this, his father helps him to overcome this and to just be himself. </p>
<p>Written in verse, this book explores toxic masculinity, gender identity, fatherhood, diversity, childhood bullying and self-expression. Its message is clear: positive parenting through loving and accepting your kids for who they are can make all the difference. My Shadow is Pink is also an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIwaQGHB1LU&t=2s">animated short film</a>. </p>
<h2>4.<a href="https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/love-makes-a-family-by-sophie-beer/9781760502225">Love Makes a Family</a> by Sophie Beer</h2>
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<p>Drawing on everyday activities, from reading and bathing, to finding lost toys, this colourful board book for the very young celebrates family life in all of its diversity. It provides a great opportunity for carers and educators to discuss ideas about family and relationships. </p>
<p>The message is simple: love sits at the centre of every family, regardless of its shapes and forms.</p>
<h2>5. <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/introducing-teddy-9781681192116/">Introducing Teddy: A gentle story about gender and friendship</a> by Jessica Walton, illustrated by Dougal MacPherson</h2>
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<p>Errol and his teddy bear Thomas love playing together, but one day Errol realises that Thomas is very unhappy. After Errol ensures that Thomas feels safe to share his worries with him, Thomas confesses that he is a girl teddy and wants to be called Tilly. And Errol is fine with this. </p>
<p>This picture book about a trans teddy bear is great for introducing young minds to the concepts of gender identity and transition. The book deals with a complex topic sensitively and simply. So, as Tilly the teddy emerges from Thomas the Teddy, she is surrounded by the acceptance and love that every child needs and deserves.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178642/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Because bias is learned from a very early age, reading and learning about diverse experiences cannot start too soon. Here are five Australian picture books that centre on queer stories.Helen Caple, Associate Professor in Communications and Journalism, UNSW SydneyPing Tian, Honorary Associate, Department of Linguistics, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1708512021-11-16T13:13:06Z2021-11-16T13:13:06ZHow getting kids to make grocery lists and set the table can improve their vocabulary and willingness to learn<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430097/original/file-20211103-18-1lx7jae.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Children can help make grocery lists and confirm the parent has bought everything on the list. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/helping-my-mom-to-do-grocery-shopping-royalty-free-image/1322934880">Antonio Diaz/iStock/Getty Images Plus</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Reading, writing and math are often thought of as subjects that children learn in school. But as a <a href="http://psychology.pitt.edu/people/diana-leyva-phd">psychologist who researches</a> how families can help <a href="http://foodforthought.pitt.edu/index.html">support learning at home</a>, I have found that children can also learn those skills through everyday tasks and chores. One of these chores is preparing a meal – everything from grocery shopping and cooking to setting the table and enjoying the meal. </p>
<p>Our research shows this is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/703104">especially true for Latino families</a> living in the U.S., many of whom are new to school systems in the U.S. but for whom family dinners are a central part of the day.</p>
<p>Our study included 248 Latino parents with kids in kindergarten. Some parents were given a set of tips – described below – on how to support children’s language, literacy and math at home while selecting, preparing and eating food. Parents were asked to use these tips for at least a month. Other parents were not given these tips. </p>
<p>Our study found that the children whose parents were given these tips had <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13698">larger vocabularies and more motivation to learn</a> both one month after using the tips and even five months later. These children were also better storytellers and were better able to control their behavior and pay better attention compared with children whose parents were not given these tips. </p>
<p>Busy parents in particular <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2017.07.001">loved these tips</a> because they were easy to follow and to fit into their regular schedules and did not require extra work or special materials. </p>
<h2>1. Make grocery lists</h2>
<p>Parents can ask their children to write out the grocery list before they go food shopping. While older children can use letters and numbers – for example, “2 cereal boxes, 10 bananas,” younger children might be encouraged to draw pictures of the items their parents want to buy or to use a combination of letters, numbers and pictures.</p>
<p>A 2017 study found that the more parents let their children try out writing and reading letters and numbers on their own while making grocery lists, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200617300042">better the children’s reading and math skills</a> are later.</p>
<p>Once back from the store, parents can ask children to use their grocery list to check whether the parents bought everything on the list. This is a great way for children to practice writing, reading and math. </p>
<h2>2. Cooking and setting the table</h2>
<p>Gathering and mixing the ingredients for cooking or setting the table are opportunities for kids to <a href="https://dreme.stanford.edu/news/family-math-research-and-practice-where-do-we-go-here">practice math</a> in a playful and familiar way. We found that practicing math with children during these household chores can also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13698">increase kids’ motivation to learn math</a>. </p>
<p>Ask your child questions such as: Can you get five apples from the fridge? I added 4 cups of milk plus one more – how many are there in total? How many plates and forks do we need today?</p>
<h2>3. Tell stories at mealtime</h2>
<p>Parents can use family dinner and other meals to encourage children to tell stories about their day. Telling stories about past or future events is a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13034">great way to build skills like vocabulary and story comprehension</a> that are needed to read. </p>
<p>To get children to talk, parents should use lots of questions that require children to come up with their own answer rather than simply responding with a “yes” or a “no.” For example: Who came with you to the party? Where did you go with Grandma? Why were you scared? </p>
<p>Talking about topics that the child cares about can also help parents get children to talk. To keep the child engaged in the conversation, parents can ask follow-up questions like “And then what happened?” They can also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2010.481552">repeat back what the child says</a>. For example, if the child says “We went to the park,” the parent might respond “That’s right, we went to the park!” and use phrases such as “Uh-huh,” “Oh,” “I didn’t know that” and “Really?” to keep the conversation going.</p>
<h2>4. Use the language that’s most comfortable</h2>
<p>Parents should feel free to talk in the language they know best. Many parents might feel pressured to speak in one language - such as English – at home because this is the language used in school. However, when parents speak in the language they are most familiar with, they are better able to express their thoughts and feelings while also preserving their culture. Speaking a native language at home is not detrimental to children’s learning. When children have strong foundations in one language – such as Spanish – they can use that knowledge as a <a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED595539">building block for learning a second language</a> – such as English. </p>
<p>Our research is based primarily on Latino families, who place particular value on family meals. Latino families tend to eat together <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7445606/">more often</a> than families from other ethnicities. They are also more likely to cook at home and involve children in kitchen chores. </p>
<p>However, these tips apply to all families who regularly cook, eat and shop for food together. And they can help busy parents support their young children’s learning without much added burden or spending.</p>
<p>[<em>Like what you’ve read? Want more?</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/the-daily-newsletter-3?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=likethis">Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/170851/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Diana Leyva received funding from the Brady Education Foundation. Diana Leyva is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a Research Scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) at University of Pittsburgh</span></em></p>Grocery shopping and family meals are prime opportunities to build reading and math skills – particularly for young Latino children, a new study finds.Diana Leyva, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of PittsburghLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1625832021-06-30T19:40:46Z2021-06-30T19:40:46Z5 children’s books that teach valuable engineering lessons<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408905/original/file-20210629-16-1j5jcge.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=46%2C0%2C5124%2C3382&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Engineering lessons can be found in many books kids already have at home or their local library. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/girl-hoists-her-books-to-the-checkout-desk-at-the-watertown-news-photo/1228228140">Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Most people think of the children’s classic “<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/charlottes-web-e-b-whitekate-dicamillo?variant=32153972277282">Charlotte’s Web</a>” as a story of devoted friendship between a spider and a pig. But it can also be read as a story of a budding engineer – Charlotte – who prototypes, builds, tests and revises her web to solve a problem.</p>
<p>As <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-Wmb3e8AAAAJ&hl=en">teacher</a> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vA_66SsAAAAJ&hl=en">educators</a>, we use children’s books <a href="https://my.nsta.org/resource/115145/methods-and-strategies-hiding-in-plain-sight">to make lessons about science</a> and <a href="https://www.nsta.org/science-scope/science-scope-novemberdecember-2020/using-trade-books-and-biographies-bring-practices">engineering</a> accessible to children of all ages.</p>
<p>Through books, children can experience how engineers use <a href="https://www.ideou.com/blogs/inspiration/what-is-design-thinking">design-based thinking</a>, which focuses on creative and innovative solutions, to solve problems. They can also explore the history of things that they use every day, such as crayons, bridges and cars. And they can expand their image of who can be an engineer or inventor.</p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.5860/cal.16.4.4">Our work</a> suggests that picture books and biographies for young adult readers can be particularly effective for introducing children to the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/best/edp.html">engineering design process</a>. These are the actions – ask, imagine, plan, create, test and improve – that engineers take to design a solution to a problem. They also help children understand engineering <a href="https://www.linkengineering.org/Explore/what-is-engineering/5808.aspx">habits of mind</a>. These are the traits, such as creativity and persistence, that help engineers successfully solve problems.</p>
<p>Here are five of our favorite science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) books for children, and some of the engineering lessons that they teach.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Children's book cover with man holding water gun" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=767&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=767&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=767&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=964&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=964&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408909/original/file-20210629-21-xq8p1i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=964&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The man who made water guns awesome.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>1. ‘<a href="https://chrisbarton.info/books/whoosh.html">Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions</a>’</h2>
<p><a href="http://lonniejohnson.com/">Lonnie Johnson</a> was always curious about how things worked. One day, while trying to figure out a way to replace the harmful chemicals found in refrigerators and air conditioners, he connected a pump with a nozzle to his bathroom faucet. When he turned the faucet on, water blasted across the room. Johnson had invented a water gun! Johnson tested and redesigned his new invention until it became the perfect summer toy – the Super Soaker. </p>
<p>This picture-book biography introduces young readers to the prototype-test-redesign process that is central to engineering. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Children's book cover with man holding strings to parade balloon" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=621&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=621&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408911/original/file-20210629-22-if7v14.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=621&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Marionette strings inspired the famous parade balloons.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>2. ’<a href="https://www.melissasweet.net/balloons-over-broadway">Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade</a>’</h2>
<p>Grab a front-row seat to the story of how Tony Sarg, an immigrant from Western Europe, created one of America’s most iconic holiday traditions – the giant balloons of <a href="https://www.macys.com/social/parade/?decade=1920s">Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade</a>. </p>
<p>This picture-book biography highlights how engineers draw on imagination and inspiration to improve their designs. After reading, children can use these same traits to create their own <a href="https://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/curriculum/the-arts/details/wayang-puppet-plays">Indonesian rod puppets</a>. These puppets inspired Sarg to flip his marionette strings upside-down so that his famous balloons could soar.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Children's book cover of woman watching birds fly" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=692&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=869&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=869&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408912/original/file-20210629-28-1hu7t3s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=869&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Greatness often starts with failure.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>3. ‘<a href="https://kirsten-w-larson.com/wood-wire-wings-emma-lilian-todd-invents-an-airplane/">Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane</a>’</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.earlyaviators.com/etodd1.htm">Lilian Todd</a> – a self-taught inventor, engineer and contemporary of the Wright brothers – worked to improve airplane designs in the early 1900s. This picture-book biography of her life illustrates how an engineer’s designs frequently fail. And it uses quotes from Todd’s perspective – “There is no work so discouraging, so exasperating, so delightful … so exhilarating as building aeroplanes” – to capture her resilience in overcoming these challenges. </p>
<p>As children often face similar obstacles in their own STEM journeys, Todd’s story provides a model for how children can prepare for, reflect on and move forward from moments of failure.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Children's book cover of server in an ice cream parlor" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1133&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1133&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408913/original/file-20210629-11592-17idmbs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1133&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Life wasn’t always so sweet for the young chocolatier.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>4. ’<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Milton-Hershey/M-M-Eboch/Childhood-of-Famous-Americans/9781416955696">Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier</a>’</h2>
<p>We’ve all eaten Hershey’s chocolate bars and Hershey’s Kisses. However, the road to commercial success for <a href="https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/our-story/milton-hershey.html">Milton Hershey</a> was circuitous, and he failed many times before he succeeded. </p>
<p>This biography, written for ages 8-12, highlights the power of persistence and the design axiom: “<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57be4ff3893fc0b6f35a64c4/t/59a5f87512abd9d5f9884c45/1504049273548/annotated-file.pdf">Fail often so you can succeed sooner</a>.”</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Children's book cover of boy standing on a windmill" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/408915/original/file-20210629-14-ov21k7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Kamkwamba used old bike parts to power his family’s home.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>5. ‘<a href="https://clubs.scholastic.com/the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind%3A-young-readers-edition/9780545946032-rco-us.html">The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind</a>’</h2>
<p>This biography, written for ages 10-13, tells how teenaged <a href="http://www.williamkamkwamba.com/">William Kamkwamba</a> built a wind turbine to produce electricity for his family in Malawi. The story shows how anyone, of any age, anywhere in the world can be an engineer. </p>
<p>This book is a great selection for a family or multi-age book club as it is also available as a <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/307402/the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-by-william-kamkwamba-and-bryan-mealer-illustrated-by-elizabeth-zunon/">picture book</a>, a <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-william-kamkwambabryan-mealer?variant=32128262242338">biography for adults</a> and even a <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80200047">movie</a>. Everyone can pick the version that is best for them and gather in person or via video chat to talk about lessons learned from Kamkwamba’s dream, determination and design.</p>
<h2>Other books</h2>
<p>Many books that are already in homes, schools and local libraries can also be used to introduce the engineering design process and habits of mind. We recommend looking for the <a href="https://www.nsta.org/science-and-children/science-and-children-januaryfebruary-2021/innovation-and-design">following story features</a> when choosing a book to explore design-based thinking with children. </p>
<p>First, the story presents a problem in a real-life context. Second, the story describes a design plan or way to solve the problem. Third, a character creates, tests and evaluates a prototype of this design. And finally, a character improves the design and applies the revised solution.</p>
<p>Parents and teachers can find more high-quality STEM books on the National Science Teaching Association’s <a href="https://www.nsta.org/best-stem-books-k-12">Best STEM Books K-12</a> or our own expanded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/18pmSBBZx7f676earUpfKxdjtAI51GxbW/view">list of favorites</a>. </p>
<p>[<em>Get our best science, health and technology stories.</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/science-editors-picks-71/?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=science-best">Sign up for The Conversation’s science newsletter</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/162583/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Picture books and young adult biographies can introduce kids to design-based thinking and engineering habits like creativity and persistence.Michelle Forsythe, Assistant Professor of STEM Education, Texas State UniversityJulie Jackson, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1406212020-09-03T21:01:21Z2020-09-03T21:01:21Z8 tips to support Grade 1 readers at home<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/356358/original/file-20200903-22-1cgp0ta.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C176%2C5609%2C3485&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Teaching children how to read is primarily a teacher’s job, but parents play a valuable role.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Learning to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612466268">read is one of the most important skills and strongest predictors of success</a>. Studies show that <a href="https://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA%202018%20Insights%20and%20Interpretations%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf">children who develop strong reading skills are more successful in school</a>, <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/81-004-x/2011004/article/11595-eng.pdf?st">more likely go to university</a> and <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/89-552-M2008019">more likely to achieve a high</a> <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2017144">quality of life</a>. Teaching children how to read is primarily a teacher’s job, but <a href="http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/redefining-family-engagement-for-student-success.">parents play a valuable role</a>. </p>
<p>Reading for pleasure is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/s15548430jlr3601_2">a stronger determinant of academic success</a> <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Backgrounds-of-Canadian-Youth-and-Access-to-New-Finnie-Mueller/820ff0764457baecd84b5f63bbe1cb06c577c494">than social and economic background</a>. It’s critical that children think of reading as a pleasant activity, so they develop the habit of reading for pleasure. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/parents-play-a-key-role-in-fostering-childrens-love-of-reading-121089">Parents play a key role in fostering children's love of reading</a>
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<p>To achieve this, parents can help provide pleasurable early encounters with reading. Unlike teachers, who receive extensive training, parents are typically unprepared to support their children’s reading development. Not surprisingly, some parents find the task daunting and stressful. This is particularly true in the beginning stages when children are just learning <a href="https://crackthecodeliteracy.com/">to “crack the code”</a> of how written language relates to speaking, and reading is laborious.</p>
<p>Nurturing a child’s shared enjoyment of language is important for laying a groundwork for reading — this starts from birth onwards, with activities that include <a href="https://theconversation.com/7-favourite-books-for-connecting-with-your-preschooler-119987">talking with children and sharing word play or songs and reading to them</a>. </p>
<p>In kindergarten, children continue to expand their vocabulary. They develop an appreciation of rhymes, syllables and individual sounds in words, which lays the foundations for reading. Direct reading instruction and home reading programs typically begin in Grade 1.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A father and son read in a blanket fort." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356359/original/file-20200903-20-1jod8tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Parents can help provide pleasurable early encounters with reading.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Common mistakes to avoid</h2>
<p>Common mistakes that create frustration and make reading unpleasant for children include:</p>
<p>• Over-relying on the sound-it-out strategy. When a child stumbles with a word, almost instinctively, adults often say: “Just sound it out!” Indeed, many words can be read this way, however you cannot always match each letter to a sound, for example: the words “where” and “two.” Such words are among the <a href="https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/first-grade-dolch-sight-words/">commonly used words that students must learn to recognize by sight through visual memory</a>.</p>
<p>• Covering the pictures. Parents may think that using the pictures is cheating, so may want to cover them. This takes away important information that helps reading.</p>
<p>• Correcting every mistake. When children misread, skip a word, guess or take too long, many parents jump in too quickly and too often to correct them. Over-correcting erodes readers’ confidence and makes the experience painful.</p>
<p>• Always expecting the child to be the one doing the reading. Usually, parents expect the child to read to them. This can be tiring and frustrating for both parties. It is fine to read to the child first. It builds their confidence and makes the experience of reading more pleasurable.</p>
<h2>Build a positive experience</h2>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="A mother reading to her daughter." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/355238/original/file-20200828-20-z5oq5k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Milagros Paz and daughter Dania Calisaya-Paz at a ‘Come Read with Me’ workshop run by Literacy in Kamloops, a group of community partners dedicated to increasing literacy levels of children, youth and adults.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Gloria Ramirez)</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here are some tips on how parents can help their child develop strong reading skills and keep home reading a fun and positive experience.</p>
<p>• Use the book’s pictures and illustrations. It’s not cheating to look at the pictures first and talk about what you see before trying to read the words. The pictures give clues to the words. </p>
<p>• Read to your child often. Read to your children for as much time as they are interested. To expand their knowledge of the world and their vocabulary, read books that are at a higher level than they can read. When they see you reading, they will want to read too. </p>
<p>• To read independently and with understanding <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/nrp/smallbook">children must know about 95 per cent of the words</a>. Help your child choose “just right” books. Easy books are good! If the book is too hard, your child may get frustrated and begin to dislike reading. If your child chooses a book that is too hard, read it to them or with them, so they can still enjoy the story. </p>
<p>• Warm up the book. This means before reading a book with your child, consider the book together: read aloud the title, talk about the topic, look at the pictures and talk about what you see, predict what might happen or explain the meaning of difficult words. </p>
<p>• Include <a href="https://cdn-files.nsba.org/s3fs-public/Beyond-Fiction-Full-Report-PDF.pdf">non-fiction</a> or science/fact books. Warm up these books using <a href="http://ftp.arizonaea.org/tools/k-w-l-know-want-to-know-learned.html#:%7E:text=K%2DW%2DL%20(Ogle%2C%201986)%20is,they%20Know%20about%20a%20topic.">the K-W-L strategy (know, wonder and learn)</a>. For example, if your child chooses a book about owls, ask them what they already know about owls, and share what you know too. Then ask what they wonder or want to know about owls, and share something you wonder about too. After you have read, talk about some of the new things you have learned about owls. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="An owl perches atop a book stack." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=415&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=521&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=521&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/356369/original/file-20200903-14-pt57sa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=521&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">If your child chooses a book about owls, part of ‘warming up’ the book before you read means talking about what your child already knows about owls.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>• Handle reading mistakes in a positive way. Not every mistake needs to be corrected. If the mistake does not change the meaning of the text, let it go. If your child says “house” for home, even “bunny” for rabbit, let it go, for the sake of fluency, comprehension and enjoyment. If what they are reading does not make sense, or the meaning has changed, you need to intervene, but first pause and wait a few seconds to give them time to self correct. If they do, praise them. If they carry on reading, prompt them. </p>
<p>• Use effective prompts. For example, these are good questions to ask: Does that make sense? Does that sound right? Does that word look right? Or, if the sentence reads: “The boy rode the horse,” but your child reads, “The boy rode the house,” pause to see if your child self-corrects. If they don’t, ask: “Does that make sense? He rode the house? Look at each letter in the word.”
Or, supposing your child reads, “The boy roped the horse.” Pause first, then point at “rode” say: “Let’s look at this word carefully. Does this word look like roped?”</p>
<p>• Bring attention to words within words. Long words are challenging for novice readers. Suggest they look for small words within the big words. Break down the word into smaller chunks (words) they might know: for instance, “play” and “ground” in playground. Go back to those words later and talk about the meaning of the two chunks and how they together make another word. This builds vocabulary knowledge <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219413509970">and will serve them well in later grades when encountering complex academic words</a> that typically have several chunks of meaning (for example, biodiversity, electromagnetic, internationalization).</p>
<p>Most kindergarteners and Grade 1 children are excited about learning to read, but <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/23317411">by Grade 3 many have become reluctant readers and begin to fall behind</a>. Our hope is that these tips help to reverse these trends and all children become lifelong readers, because reading is a path to success and wisdom.</p>
<p><em>Fiona Clare, Literacy in Kamloops Outreach Coordinator, co-authored this article.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/140621/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Gloria Ramirez receives funding from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada, Thompson Rivers University, The United Way. </span></em></p>To “warm up” a book, use the K-W-L strategy: Talk with your child about what you both KNOW about the subject, what you WONDER and afterwards, what you’ve LEARNED.Gloria Ramirez, Associate Professor of Education, Thompson Rivers UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1251192019-11-11T23:21:32Z2019-11-11T23:21:32ZFun with rhymes and word play helps children learn to read<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300985/original/file-20191110-194628-t6kdmi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C356%2C4671%2C2685&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Isn't it weird that some words don't rhyme that look like they should, like wood and food? </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Parents are often their children’s first literacy teachers. They oversee children signing their names on artwork and read storybooks with their kids. Yet not much research has focused on what exactly parents do when helping their children read. </p>
<p>Our research examines reading-related knowledge, which is not the same thing as being a good reader. </p>
<p>Parents with higher reading-related knowledge are more likely to point out interesting patterns in oral and written language to their children. They also tend to be more encouraging by providing supportive comments and useful tips while helping their children read. We have reason to believe that over time, <a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1174685">these behaviours enhance children’s reading and spelling development</a>. </p>
<h2>Assessing parents’ skills</h2>
<p>Reading-related knowledge comprises at least three important skills. These are phonological awareness (a capacity to isolate and manipulate units of sound, such as by coming up with rhymes or being able to say how many different sounds are in a word), knowledge of written syllable patterns and the ability to identify regular and irregular word spellings. </p>
<p>We measured reading-related knowledge in a study that recruited a sample of 70 parents from local Québec schools. A criterion for participation was that English was primarily spoken in the home. Survey respondents were well-educated and had middle-upper class incomes. </p>
<p>We asked parents to do the following: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Count the number of units of speech sounds (the word church has three sounds: ch/ur/ch); </p></li>
<li><p>Determine which syllable patterns were represented in four words (for example, a consonant-vowel-consonant word like <em>bed</em> represents a closed syllable and a consonant-vowel word like <em>be</em> represents an open syllable); </p></li>
<li><p>Distinguish between regular and irregular word spellings. For example, according to what is called the “magic letter E pattern,” the final E marks the vowel that comes before it as long. So, a word like <em>hive</em> is regular because the letter I says its own name. The word <em>give</em> is irregular because the letter I is a short vowel sound. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>We found that parents who had better skills in these three areas praised their children more.</p>
<p>They might say things to their child like: “Really good reading!” </p>
<p>These parents also explained more letter-to-sound connections <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9817.12272">when helping their children read</a>. That means if the child was reading a word like exit, the parent might say “This E sounds like the E in egg.” </p>
<h2>Word play is not just play</h2>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=549&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=689&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=689&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300982/original/file-20191110-194656-p418n6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=689&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Traditional English language nursery rhymes such as ‘Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet’ emphasize rhyming.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When parents play rhyming games, this builds children’s awareness of speech sounds and phonological awareness, the ability to isolate and manipulate sound. </p>
<p>Parents might also use alliteration, drawing attention to first sounds that are repeated in fun language play heard in sentences like: “Maggie-May minds messes.” </p>
<p>Phonological awareness deals only with sounds. So, an example of alliteration is also: “The King’s calico cat ….” </p>
<p>Isolating speech sounds helps children later map sounds onto letters. </p>
<p>Considering words such as cat and king, children must be able to first associate the letters C and K with the /k/ sound, and then blend the /k/ sound with the other sounds to read the words. </p>
<p>Whereas, to spell these words, children must isolate each of the three speech sounds (/k/a/t/ and /k/i/ng/) while associating them with corresponding letters and letter patterns.</p>
<h2>Learning to spell</h2>
<p>When children are made aware of syllable types in English, it helps them understand why pronunciations of vowels may differ across words. Familiarizing children with the most common syllable types is important because knowing them makes reading and spelling less erratic. </p>
<p>For example, children often start reading words with closed syllables like <em>cat</em> or <em>hat</em>, where the vowel is short and followed by at least one consonant. </p>
<p>New readers also encounter words with open syllables, such as in the words <em>me</em> and <em>go</em>, where the vowel is spelled with a single letter and says its own name.</p>
<p>It is not uncommon for children to find words containing what are called vowel teams: In such words, the first vowel sound is long, as in the word team itself. The expression “when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking,” is often helpful to remember this type of word (for example, <em>rain</em> or <em>boat</em>).</p>
<p>As discussed above, in words like <em>hive</em> and <em>make</em>, the final E “magically” turns the preceding vowel into a long sound. We observed that parents who have an implicit understanding of syllable patterns remind their children of these — for example, by saying “Watch for the magic letter E,” which helps their children read more accurately.</p>
<h2>Tips for parents</h2>
<p>Learning to sound out words is critical but in a complex language like English, it is not enough. In irregular words that don’t conform to typical letter-to-sound
pronunciations (such as the word <em>one</em>), it is counterproductive to tell children to sound them out. Indeed, when parents ask children to sound out irregular words, or act overly confused when a child pronounces “one” as “own,” it can be frustrating for children.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/300931/original/file-20191108-194646-1w8jpzy.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">P is for Pterodactyl, by Raj Haldar.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Parents can keep their eyes open for words that rhyme (pie, sigh) or do not rhyme even though they look like they should (wood, food). </p>
<p>Interested parents can choose to visit websites such as Reading Rockets to learn more about <a href="https://www.readingrockets.org/article/six-syllable-types">syllable types in English and other skills that underlie fluent reading</a>. </p>
<p>They can also seek out clever storybooks to help them and their children learn about phonological awareness and irregular spellings. Some examples are <em><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460705964/did-you-take-the-b-from-my-_ook-books-that-drive-kids-crazy-book-2/">Did you take the B from my ook?</a></em> or <em><a href="https://shop.sourcebooks.com/p-is-for-pterodactyl.html">P is for Pterodactyl: The worst alphabet book ever</a></em>. </p>
<p>Clearly, helping children read extends beyond simply correcting errors. Rather, parents might start by taking an interest in the beauty and occasional weirdness of language, and then passing it on to their children.</p>
<p>[ <em>Like what you’ve read? Want more?</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/ca/newsletters?utm_source=TCCA&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=likethis">Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter</a>. ]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125119/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Aviva Segal receives funding from The Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et culture (FRQSC). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sandra Martin-Chang received funding from SSCHRC. </span></em></p>With a complex language, like English, learning to sound out words is critical but not enough for learning how to read.Aviva Segal, Part-time Faculty in the Department of Education, Concordia UniversitySandra Martin-Chang, Professor, Department of Education, Concordia UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.