Growing Readers & Writers

by Dr. Connie R. Hebert

Growing readers and writers is not an easy task for parents! If we want our children to become independent readers, writers, and thinkers, we would be wise to support literacy development at home in a variety of ways. Foundations are set during the Preschool through Grade 3 levels.

If we build strong foundations for literacy, children will feel successful, apply what they have learned to new learning, use critical thinking skills to solve problems, write well, and read increasingly difficult texts on their own.
A tall order!

Here's what you can do at home:

Label objects and things in your kitchen on index cards. Use lower-case letters only.
Teach your child about letters and words using lower-case magnetic letters on the refrigerator.
Have your children listen to 'books on tape' in the car.
Play 'write a word FAST' on white boards and small chalkboards.
When your child asks you how to spell a word, ALWAYS write it down for them to copy.
Flash sight word PHRASES* daily to build visual tracking, fluent phrasing, and sight word automaticity.
*4 sets of phrases (Pre -K thru Grade 4) available at www.conniehebert.com
Most importantly, READ to your child DAILY.
See below recommended list of read-aloud books for ALL kids.

Remember that kids become what they think we want them to become. Be sure they know WHY you want them to become readers, writers, and thinkers!

For more information on how to help your children with literacy development, please contact Dr. Connie Hebert, National Literacy Consultant, in West Springfield, MA at dr.conniehebert@comcast.net or 413-222-2848. Together, we can 'catch them ALL' . . .

Dr. Connie R. Hebert is a nationally acclaimed teacher of teachers, reading specialist, & motivational speaker. Her company, EINNOC Educational Enterprises, is dedicated to motivating, teaching, and inspiring educators around the world. Connie received a doctorate in educational leadership, a master’s degree in reading from the College of William & Mary, & Reading Recovery certification from Lesley University. Experience in the field includes Director of Reading (K-12), Elementary Teacher (7 school districts), Reading Specialist (K - 6), Gifted & Talented Teacher, Elementary Music Teacher, and Reading Recovery Teacher (3 school districts). She is the author of the books Catch a Falling Reader, Second Edition (published by Corwin Press in 2007) and Catch a Falling Teacher (2006). She served 9 years as a senior national consultant for SDE (Staff Development for Educators) and 3 years as a literacy consultant for Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's Treasures program. Dr. Hebert has been a national faculty instructor for Lesley University and served as a language arts instructor in 4 Massachusetts state colleges. She has spoken for teachers in 47 states and for many national, state, and European state reading conferences. She can be reached at www.conniehebert.com

Recommended Read Alouds for ALL Kids
Connie R. Hebert, Ed.D., National Literacy Consultant           www.conniehebert.com

•   Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. (1998). NY: Puffin Books.
•   Sylvester & the Magic Pebble by William Steig. (1969). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   Babushka’s Doll by Patricia Polacco. (1999). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. (1982). NY: Puffin Books.
•   Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. (1948). NY: Viking.
•   The Little Yellow Chicken by Joy Cowley. (1996). Wright Group.
•   Hats for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. (1987). William R. Scott, Inc.
•   Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel. (1978). NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
•   Go Dog Go by P. D. Eastman. (1989). NY: Random House.
•   The Napping House by Audrey & Don Wood. (2004). FL: Harcourt.
•   Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg. (1988). NY: Houghton Mifflin.
•   The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow. (2003). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. (2007). Square Fish.
•   Fly By Night by June Crebbin. (1995). Walker Books.
•   Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. (1987). NY: Penguin Putnam Books.
•   Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. (2001). NY: Penguin Putnam Books.
•   Sophie’s Masterpiece by Eileen Spinelli. (2004). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   The Mitten by Jan Brett. (1989). NY: Penguin Putnam Books.
•   The Heart of the Wood by Marguerite W. Davol. (1992). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaolo. (1996). NY: The Putnam & Grosset Group.
•   The Day of Ahmed’s Secret by Florence Parry Heide & Judith Heide Gilliland. (1997). NY: Puffin Books.
•   The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle. (1990). Philomel.
•   The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. (1964). NY: Harper Collins.
•   Wolf by Becky Bloom. (1999). NY: Orchard Books/Grolier.
•   Stellaluna by Janel Cannon. (1999). FL: Harcourt.
•    The Children’s Book of Heroes Edited by William J. Bennett. (1997). NY: Simon & Schuster.
•   Brother Eagle, Sister Sky . . . A Message from Chief Seattle. (1993). NY: Puffin Books.

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