In the past week, we’ve had glorious weather, a community pool party and an outdoor jazz festival, yet there’s no denying that back to school season is drawing near. As part of the Barrington Area Library’s 365 Barrington Takeover, here’s some back to school advice from the library’s Head of Youth Services, Ryann Uden.
What’s On Your School Supplies List?
by Ryann Uden, Barrington Area Library Head of Youth Services
While you are scouring the aisles for the perfect backpack or the right selection of crayons, keep in mind our favorite back-to-school supply: a library card! Kids living in the Barrington Area Library district may get a library card at any age and it is their golden ticket to books, DVDs, e-books and more!
Starting school can be traumatic for kids (and their grown-ups). Ease the transition with some great back-to-school reads. Two of my favorites are The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten by Maureen Fergus and Mike Lowery, and Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! by Hyewon Yum. Both feature brave students helping their parents cope with the transition to kindergarten.
The beginning of a school year is also the perfect time for establishing new routines. Consider adding family reading time to your daily schedule this year. Research continues to show how beneficial reading aloud can be to children of any age. Not only is it a great way to spend time together, reading aloud also increases your child’s vocabulary and his or her listening comprehension.
Family Reading Tips
• Read stories you enjoy. Your kids will pick up on your enthusiasm!
• Get comfortable answering questions—and asking them—as you read to increase your child’s connection with the story.
• Preview your selected story in case there are sections your want to highlight or skip over.
• Give yourself the permission to read a book more than once, or quit reading a book that isn’t working with your family.
• Consider including nonfiction titles in your routine and enjoy the rich conversation they are sure to start.
(More reading tips can be found on Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Web site.)
One of the newest kids on the read aloud block is Alvin Ho, a second grader who learns to be brave despite his fear of everything. See the video below for a taste of life with Alvin and see if he’ll be your next read aloud:
Need more ideas? Visit our Kids Book Suggestion page or stop by and ask us for recommendations.
Whatever your routine, we hope you have a great start to your school year!
About the Author
Ryann Uden is the Head of Youth Services at the Barrington Area Library.
She loves dreaming up ways people can be creative at the library.
She has an addiction to books in all forms: print, e-book and audio.
When not reading, you’ll probably find her on some type of social networking site, writing a romance novel, or taking a class as a waiting adoptive parent.
