Raising a Reader: Closing the Million-Word Gap
Raising a Reader: Closing the Million-Word Gap
I have taught and assisted elementary-age students for twenty-six years. The beginning of the year is hectic. Teachers observe and assess students as soon as possible to give them ample learning opportunities. Yes, I love the buzz of a new beginning.
However, if I had a magic wand, I wish I could foresee which students would be in my classroom. Why? It’s plain and simple. Because if I could go back six years and greet that new baby, knowing I would be their teacher, I’d have a sit down with their parents. And when those proud parents ask me, “What can I do to help prepare my child for success?” I’d smile and say, “Read to them every day—not just one book, but many books.”
I don’t have a magic wand, but I can teach reading strategies to students to help them gain momentum and reach reading success, and they will progress. But often, if a child falls behind their peers because of a lack of exposure to books and reading, gaining momentum can quickly become a chore for the student instead of a love of reading.
Imagine what that might look like in the adult world—the difference between a welcome task and one you’d like to avoid. For example, if you love cooking, you probably enjoy studying recipes or creating new delicious meals. Maybe you grew up learning how to knead bread dough or whip egg whites into soft peaks for an angel food cake. You loved being with your mom or dad in the kitchen. As you grow and learn more about cooking, you think about food. You understand the measurement of a dash, a pinch, or a smidgen. You shop for just the right foods and spices. You read articles about cooking. It’s hard work, but it’s fun and relaxing.
Now, imagine if you disliked cooking like a bee sting. You’d do anything to avoid it—make it your last priority—and the only reason you approach the stove is so your children eat a decent meal.
Of course, some kids entering school below their curriculum’s reading level will eventually become amazing readers, but playing catch-up isn’t easy.
Teachers spend an enormous amount of time raising a classroom's self-esteem. “We are a team. We all learn differently. We all have different talents. You are special. You are unique.” However, the best-laid positive plan does not prevent students from knowing exactly where they fit in at school. Self-esteem and future success must begin much earlier than in the classroom, and getting cozy with a parent (grandparent, aunt, or uncle) for daily reading helps build confidence in exploring new words, language skills, phonics, phonemic awareness, and reading comprehension, along with a feel-good closeness to parents and books.
According to Speech Blurbs, there is a million-word gap between children reading one book daily compared to five books per day with their parents.
By the time a child is five, they will hear almost 300,000 words daily while reading one book, compared to nearly 1.5 million words for the child whose parents read them five books daily. That difference is over a million words when a child enters kindergarten. Imagine the confidence and eagerness to learn with a million words stored in a child’s memory, waiting for the next lesson, conversation, and connection.
You can start now to raise a reader. Take your child to the library and let them borrow as many books as they are allowed. Set aside time to read. You can read to, listen to, or share reading with your child and have fun building a love for learning.
Here are a few of my favorite children’s books for ages 0-7
Good Night, Gorilla
by Peggy Rathmann
This is my favorite board book. It’s adorable, colorful, simple, and funny.
The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
There is a sequence to reading, and this book is a perfect example for your toddler. What happens first, next, last?
Room on the Broom
by Julie Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Perfect for your kindergarten student. Rhyming and funny.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
By Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
Your child can read this book by recall—a vital reading readiness skill.
Best Word Book Ever
by Richard Scarry
An excellent book to get your toddler interested in vocabulary.
Elephant and Piggie (and Pigeon) books
by Mo Willems
Your first grader will laugh at these books. They are favorites among kids—and adults laugh, too. These books teach dialogue through speech bubbles.
Nursery Rhymes-There are several.
The Real Mother Goose is my favorite. Ok, I’m going to sound old school, but I cannot believe how many children do not know nursery rhymes. Sing song rhymes are easy to remember and are fun to learn. I learned to read with nursery rhymes.
There’s a Wocket in My Pocket
by Dr. Seuss
It's another rhyming book, but this one has funny, nonsense words. Preschoolers love to make up words, and why not?
What I’m Listening to Now
I love audiobooks— here are a couple I’m playing in Audible right now.
The Library of Borrowed Hearts
by Lucy Gilmore
One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
Books On My Nightstand
Reading is one of my favorite pasttimes— here are some books I’m reading now that I recommend.
The Coworker
by Freida McFadden
The Paradise Problem
by Christina Lauren
From the Dog's POV
Teaching and writing have my human preoccupied!
My human returned to school a few weeks ago. She was all sad leaving me, and I acted the part like I was on Broadway.
But here’s the thing—as soon as I see the car pull down the driveway and hear the garage door close, I go happily to my double mattress bed and take a long snooze.
When my human arrives home, I act wild, like I need pets, a walk, and all sorts of affection. She delivers, of course. I’m good at getting what I want. That is until she sits down to write.
Then, she needs too much focus for me to bother her, so I do the next best thing. I sit patiently and stare at her. I’ve learned how to be the best dog in the world for this writing thing she does.
Good Vibes
All my books are on audio. You can find them on Audible— if you love the sample and want to hear more, you can sign up here.
Listen to a free sample of each audiobook by clicking on the titles below!
The Fifth Floor is the first book in the Fifth Floor trilogy
Just Like Ziggy is the second book in the Fifth Floor trilogy
All But One is the third book in the Fifth Floor trilogy
Pompey Hollow Road is a historical fiction novel
