5 Ways to Spark Family Reading Discussions

We all know that the reading experience doesn't end simply because we finish a book. The stories we read live on in our minds and come to life through the discussions we have about them. Part of the important work we all do as readers is thinking deeply about what we have read and coming up with our own opinion about the characters and big ideas. Get your children in the habit of being engaged and thoughtful close readers and be amazed at what you all learn about each other in the process. The conversations you have around your favorite stories will be a window into your child's inner life. Here are five ways to spark family reading discussions.

1. Read aloud before a meal.

The coziness of bedtime lends itself well to a read aloud but sometimes the need for sleep at that hour means you don't get to debrief with your child after reading. Try opening a family breakfast or dinner with a read aloud, a time where you are all lively and gathered together. Ease your family into the discussion by going around the table and sharing your favorite part of the story, your guess about what might happen next (if you are reading a chapter book) or what could have happened after the story ended (characters' lives go on!). Always prompt your child to back up their thoughts with an example from the text, and model this behavior when you share your own opinions.

2. Start a quote of the week routine.

At LitWorld we write the quotes that inspire us on the walls of our office with erasable markers or share them over email. Team members respond with their reactions to the words and relate them back to our organization's core values. Share inspiring words with your children by taking famous quotes (or quotes from people you know!) or excerpts from a book or poem. Display the quote in a central area of your home so that your child will see the words regular during his day-to-day routine. At the end of the week have a discussion about your interpretation of the quote. Ask each family member: Why do you find it so meaningful? What does it remind you of? What questions did you have after reading the quote? What is the author trying to tell us?

3. Add a new twist to family movie night.

Wonderful books have inspired wonderful movies for ages. Knowing that a favorite book exists in movie form is a great reading inspiration for children, and a comfort that the adventure isn't quite over yet even though the last page has been read. Find age appropriate book and movie pairings (from fairy tales to classics) and read the book as a family before watching the movie. Before you watch the movie predict how it will be similar or different than the book. After your screening talk about whether or not your predictions were true. Discuss what you all wish had been in the movie and why certain parts were left out. How was the setting different than what you imagined as you read the book? 

4. Leave notes for your loved ones in the margins.

One of life's great joys is recommending the right book to the right reader. Share the books you loved as a child and teen with your kids. Before you hand them over re-read them and leave post-its throughout the book or actual notes in the margins for your child to discover on a "literary scavenger hunt" of sorts. Leave a note next to a beloved passage that says, "This is my favorite part of the book, come find me after you read this page!" You can also leave questions to get your child thinking about characters and plot: "I've never understood why the character did this, what do you think?" Have your child write post-it notes of his own and then pass on to a sibling or another family member to keep the book buddy train rolling.

5. Share your independent reading lives

When it's time for everyone to dig into their own independent reading keep everyone in the loop by creating a "What We're Reading" chart. Have each family member record the books they read in a fun way so that everyone can see who's reading what and ask questions along the way. There could be a column for title, author, genre, a short review (or rating system such as stars or thumbs up/down) and the name of a person they know who should read the book next. As simple as it sounds, being a part of the family reading club will inspire your children to want to read to add new titles to the chart and follow in your reading role model footsteps. 

Kids Put the Magic in LitCamp

This week LitCamp Intern Will Campo is taking over the blog to share his LitWorld experience with you. Will grew up in New England and in Hong Kong. He enjoyed exploring parts of Southeast Asia with his family and returned to the United States for high school and college. Will attended St. Lawrence University, where he majored in Government and also played on the squash team. He also enjoys playing tennis and spent a few summers as a tennis coach for kids of all ages. Here's Will with stories from our Harlem LitCamp.

It was another successful week at LitCamp! The theme that guided our activities was “Around the World.” As in previous weeks, all the classes led by the interns, and assisted by the teen counselors, brought fun, variety, and intrigue to the campers.

At "Morning Meeting," the LitCampers learned a number of different ways to say "Hello," ranging from “Ni hao” (Mandarin Chinese) to “Aloha” (Hawaiian). In addition, campers were given the opportunity to share customs and traditions from their own cultures. In doing so, the kids and interns received a crash course in the vast cultures of the world. 

Here's a group of LitCampers at Morning Meeting presenting the flag of a new country they made up - Water Candy World!

What never ceases to amaze me, during "Morning Meeting" and other periods of the day as well, is how considerate and thoughtful the campers are. No matter who is speaking, whether it is a Camp Director or a fellow camper, every one of the campers from the age of 5 to 14 gives his or her undivided attention and respect. The maturity level of the average LitCamper vastly surpasses that of many high school students that I have encountered. This fact has been embodied in the way the kids act when we are beyond the comfort of our home base at Broadway Housing Communities and Riverside Park.

This week we all had a great time on our field trip to Governors Island. Taking the subway to South Ferry, and then the ferry to the island, all the staff had an easy time because the campers made it that way. Sometimes the campers even took on the role of counselor, as Raj did a number of times with my "bunk" of kids. 

On the ferry to Governor's Island with my bunk of LitCampers!

Monday begins “Environment and Nature Week” and I’m confident it will be even better than the last three. The kids never stop impressing us, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll surprise and inspire us next week!

Stories Matter

Today's edition of the Summer Internship series comes from Ashley Molina. Ashley is about to start her senior year at Eastern University. She is the President of the Latinos United Club and President and Ambassador of the Multicultural Awareness Advisory Committee. She is pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and plans to be a school psychologist. She loves writing, reading, musical theater and playing soccer. Here's Ashley to share reflections on her LitWorld experience so far.

It was a rainy second week at LitCamp, but the fun never stopped. We spent another amazing week singing songs, reading aloud, cooking, practicing yoga and dance. One of my favorite parts of LitCamp is listening to campers give shooting stars to each other during our morning meetings. Each camper gets a chance to choose someone they would want to send shooting stars to as a way of praising them for something positive that they have done. Seeing the campers praise each other for being a good friend or read-aloud partner, sharing during bunk time activities or simply being nice and giving positive reinforcement to each other is a humble and pure form of celebration.

During one of our morning meetings this week, one of our campers Jayda gave me shooting stars for taking the time to listen to her stories. It was a true honor and the smile on her face was such a blessing. As subtle as it may sound, listening really matters to children and shows them that their stories are being heard and that they matter. It is an affirmation of the core value of LitWorld: Stories matter.

Before starting our journey at LitCamp, all of us interns had a workshop with LitWorld's Founder Pam Allyn. One thing Pam mentioned was that deep listening really, really matters. It is important to be a great listener. While preparing for camp, we all worked on communication skills. A big part of those communication skills revolved around listening. You listen with your ears, eyes, undivided attention and with your heart. When Pam was explaining the importance of deep listening, she mentioned that when you absorb those stories with your own empathetic listening you begin to journey with the other person.

As Jayda was telling me her story, her smile and the excitement in her eyes start to paint a picture of the journey. As I traveled on that journey with her, she knew and felt that her story matters. She knew that the stories others have shared and are remembered today matter just as much. All the kids at LitCamp have a story and each of them matter. Being able to work closely with the kids and to get to know each of them individually has been an experience I will continue to carry with me always. I am excited to continue this journey with all of the staff to celebrate and affirm the strengths of these kids and with each other.  

Finding Home and a Place to Belong in the Read Aloud

LitCamp is officially in session across New York city and Detroit. Here to offer you an inside view of our Harlem LitCamp is our summer intern, Rachael Smith. Rachael is a Junior at Dickinson College studying music composition. She takes every opportunity to make music and is a member of multiple choirs, her own band and an a capella group. She has also been doing improvisational comedy for 5 years, and performs with the Dickinson Improv troupe. And now, here's Rachael!

What an exciting and fun first week at LitCamp! We spent our time playing games, singing songs, making crafts and, of course, reading. I enjoyed all of these activities but my favorite was reading aloud. This is a central part of of both LitCamp and LitWorld, and we got to do a lot of it these past few days. 

I was introduced to the read aloud on my first day at LitWorld. After meeting new people, grasping new concepts, all in a new place, I felt a bit overwhelmed. Before we left the office, Yaya read The Gift of Nothing to the interns, and I suddenly felt at ease. Seeing someone take the time and care to read to us gave me a sense of welcome and importance. I was instantly hooked on read alouds.

Five weeks later on the first day of LitCamp, I got the chance to read with Abel, an experienced reader. We were making our way through a book about basketball, each reading an alternate page. Dan, a younger camper, came over and asked to join. We included him in our reading method, and when it was his turn to read a page, we quickly discovered that he was still in the learning process. We switched to repeat-after-me method and when Dan's turn came he echoed what I read. Dan loved this so much that he started repeating after both of us on every page. Instead of getting upset or correcting Dan, Abel welcomed his enthusiasm. He excitedly helped Dan with each word, even the sound effects written in the illustrations. After we finished, Dan, who earlier that day said he hated books, smiled and asked if we could read it again.

Abel's welcoming attitude and excitement to help Dan made the read aloud that morning a huge success. This attitude isn't unique to Abel, it's also engrained in the LitWorld culture. I experienced the same type of welcome listening to The Gift of Nothing on my first day. I've witnessed attitudes of care and excitement in all of the staff members at the office, and they clearly brought these attitudes to camp. The seasoned campers carry the same spirit, and as Abel showed on the first day, are excited to share it with the new faces.

July News for You: Lighting LitWorld Campfires of Hope

Here's what we know for sure: social transformation is within the reach of all communities when people are valued as the most treasured resource. Every child and community member is overflowing with stories and literacy grows best by writing and telling these stories. This is a simple, life-changing idea.

Here's how the people in the LitWorld movement (that means you!) are changing the world together.

LitCamps & Summer Learning Rock the Nation

Ready for a summer of LitCamp joy in Detroit.

This week 14 LitCamps begin in New York and Detroit - our biggest crop ever! Over a thousand children will spend the summer taking story adventures, cultivating a deep love of reading and finding their greatest inspiration as writers. This all happens in a community of fellow LitCampers and trusted leaders who serve as reading role models and mentors. Our Harlem LitCamp at Broadway Housing Communities' Dorothy Day building will be co-run by LitWorld staff, intern counselors and LitClub junior counselors. We have partnered for a second year with The After School Corporation to spread LitCamps across New York and with Detroit Public Schools to launch our inaugural Detroit LitCamps.

LitWorld's Founder Pam Allyn has been spreading our innovative approach to summer learning with families and leaders across America. In her latest piece for the Huffington Post she shares her top five ways to cultivate fearless summer readers and writers.

Reading Aloud is Doctor Recommended

A sneak peek inside a Moms LitClub meeting in Rwanda.

Last week the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that doctors will now prescribe read alouds from birth to new parents as a critical factor for future literacy and academic success. NBC Denver asked Pam Allyn to share her expert insight about the profound impact reading aloud has on a child's potential. Watch the full interview here.

LitWorld has been leading read aloud advocacy for years. Through World Read Aloud Day (which was celebrated in over 80 countries this March) and our Family and Moms LitClubs, we have pioneered programs that engage parents and children in reading and storytelling. Our Moms LitClubs are thriving in Kenya, Rwanda, Haiti, the Philippines and now in Jordan where we are training young mothers to read aloud with the children of the Za'atari Syrian Refugee Camp with our local partner We Love Reading. In a place where over half of the population is under 17, reading aloud provides access to hope, joy and a world of possibility.

WhatsApp, You Say?

A LitClub writer and storyteller in India shared by Regional Coordinator Gargi via WhatsApp.

So far this year we have already launched LitWorld programs with new partners in India, Zambia, Uganda, Colombia and Jordan. As we work on building our LitPower Platform to network LitWorld's leaders with one another and support them with interactive online curriculum and professional development, we are also experimenting with the wonderful apps and online tools available worldwide. Connecting our on-the-ground leaders through mobile apps such as WhatsApp has quickly become an avenue for question-asking and knowledge-sharing.

Gargi from Ahmedabad, India recently shared this photo of a Boys LitClub member who told her that writing down his story makes him happy. Phoebe from Kisumu, Kenya sent pictures of the girls in her LitClubs hugging and singing, sharing that they were feeling a strong sense of belonging that day. Peachy from Manila, Philippines shared a photo of a founding LitClub member who has grown to become a junior LitClub mentor. This sparked a reply from Prisca and Maureen in Kibera, Kenya, where their own founding LitClub members have also become junior LitClub mentors. This tool is helping our on-the-ground leaders unite around their LitWorld work and have meaningful conversations about what literacy can mean for the children in their communities. 

5 Books That Make a Rockin' Read Aloud

Last week the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that doctors will now prescribe reading aloud to children from birth to new parents as a critical factor for future literacy and academic success. LitWorld has been leading read aloud advocacy for years. Through World Read Aloud Day (which was celebrated in over 80 countries this year) and our family and moms LitClubs, we're forever championing the power and joy of reading aloud from the earliest age, and at every age. We asked our LitWorld community and LitCamp interns to share some of their current favorite read alouds. Here are 5 books that you should check out to rock your next read aloud.

1. The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer

Our intern Rachael cannot wait to share this story with our Harlem LitCampers. She loves the spirit of creativity that honors a child's inner thought process and also guides kids to think about the needs and wants of another being (in this case, a salamander!). This is a great read by itself and extra fun in areas where kids can go exploring for salamanders in their own backyards or in a park.

2. Journey by Aaron Becker

This recommendation comes from our intern Katya who will be reading the story with 9 to 11-year-old LitCampers. It is a wordless but sophisticated picture book that gives kids the chance to take turns telling the story and to share their unique interpretations of the illustrations. Journey is an incredibly beautiful story about escaping boredom through imagination and friendship - perfect for the summer months.

3. Hooray for Hat by Brian Won

We asked our amazing WRADvocate (World Read Aloud Day advocate) Mr. Schu for his summer read aloud recommendations and Hooray for Hat was at the top of his list. This book speaks to the power of friendship and the ability we all have to bring joy into each other's life with simple but sincere and kind actions. Be ready to plan your own parade after finishing this tale, and if you love this book too, send a tweet to @MrSchuReads to thank him for his recommendation!

4. The BFG by Roald Dahl

This classic, whimsical tale is great to read aloud with all ages. Older children will be enraptured by the whimsy and fun use of language - "humplecrimp," "swallomp," and "crumpscoddles" abound! The larger than life characters (pun intended) will entertain, frustrate and delight your listeners. Reading chapter books is a great way to build anticipation and eagerness around reading. Children will want you to read chapter after chapter in one sitting, and will spend time in between reading installments thinking about the story and what might happen next!

5. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

This groovy story is a current LitClub favorite. Pete the Cat is not only a rock star, he is a resilient role model who shows children how to focus on gratitude and all of the things going well in their lives even in the face of a not so great event. Our LitClub girls and boys get deeply invested in the story and love to share their predictions about what will happen next in the story, so be sure to pause periodically as your read to invite your child to share his guesses too!

How to Use Reading to Inspire Writing

"Reading is like breathing in, and writing is like breathing out." This is how LitWorld's Founder Pam Allyn beautifully captures the interconnected nature of reading and writing. Reading brings new ideas, perspectives and worldviews. Writing is how we send our own voice, hopes, wonderings and opinions into the world. Captivating books act as mentors for a child's own writing and provide valuable guidance on how to tell stories and craft strong ideas. This all happens in real time which is why writing and reading are most impactful when practiced together. Here are five ways to use reading to inspire your child's writing life this summer.

1. Bring characters to life.

Book lovers know that characters don't simply exist within the pages of a book. They have personalities and plans for the future just like us. Their stories impact our lives and they are lasting friends who accompany us through life's journeys. Emphasize the multi-dimensional lives of characters by encouraging your child to go beyond the words on the page and fall deeply into a character's world. Encourage this through fun and short writing prompts: "What songs would Anne of Green Gables have on her iPod playlist?" "If Clifford the Big Red Dog were going on vacation, what would he pack in his suitcase?" "What would you tell Scaredy Squirrel to make him feel brave?" Your child is already imagining a character's life in vivid detail, capture all of this on the page (or iPad).

2. Take a stand.

So many books, poems and blogs are written because an author has a strong opinion that she wants to share with as many people as possible. Your child is also passionate about so many things and should practice expressing these opinions from the earliest age. This sends the message her voice and stories matter - to you, to the community and to the world. Standing up for her beliefs will become a natural, lifelong habit of civic engagement and self-expression. 

Guide your child to find an author's deeper reason for writing by asking: "What does the author want her readers to know? What does she want her readers to do after reading her words?" Have your child jot down some ideas or model your own thinking to get the ball rolling. Then make another list titled, "The Things I Care About." Have your child write a short list of the people, places and things she is passionate about. She may want the world to know that she has the best sister in the whole world. She may be upset by litter on the playground. Have her craft a longer journal entry, blog post or letter to the editor based on this list. 

3. Practice being a grateful, curious reader.

Reading will leave your child with questions for the author of a book. Why did the character do this instead of that? What happens next for a character? Does the character reach her goals? Channel all of this into a letter to the author. Thanks to our amazingly connected world you can track down where to mail or email a letter through a publisher's website (or in some cases an author will share contact information on her personal website). Also consider connecting over Twitter or a Facebook fan page. Beyond her curiosity about the book, encourage your child to share gratitude for writing the book. It will make an author's day to know that they've had a positive impact on your child's reading life. 

4. Spread reading joy.

We think one of the most satisfying feelings is recommending the perfect book to the perfect person. Knowing the wonderful reading journey that awaits a friend or family member sends reading joy out into the world. This practice also means that we are thinking deeply about our loved ones and matching their interests and perspectives to the larger theme of a book. This is important work. Your child has wonderful intuition and can use this to be a giver of reading magic. After he finishes a book ask him, "Who should read this book next? Why?" He should write his "pitch" to the lucky reader of his choice in a letter, an email, tweet or through a reading community website like Goodreads. This is a beautiful way of "paying it forward."

5. Read, reflect, record.

Stories live on in us long after we've finished the last page. They change us in small ways, and when we're lucky, in life-changing ways. Reflecting on what we've read brings all of this to the surface and helps us read with purpose and intent. Building regular reflection habits throughout the reading process allows your child to capture feelings, observations and questions while he's reading so that he can return and reference them later and nothing will be forgotten. Use post-its, a small notebook or a note-taking app on your iPad for him to write favorite passages, page numbers or things to Google when he's done reading. Also set up a simple chart for him to keep a lists of what he's learned because of a particular book, or things that he now feels differently about because of a book.