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The
Importance Of Critical Reading And The Elementary Child
The The importance of critical
reading is an area that is often overlooked by parents. While
most parents realize the importance of reading to their child
and fostering a love of books, the importance of critical
reading is an area many parents are less knowledgeable about.
Therefore, critical reading often does not get the emphasis it
needs.
Critical reading is the ability to draw useful information
from a book. For the most part, kindergarten through second
grade focuses more on learning to read and reading for
enjoyment. By third grade, however, the importance of critical
reading becomes critical.
The importance of critical reading becomes more apparent by
third grade because this is when kids generally start reading
to learn. Chapters are assigned in science, social studies,
and health books. By third grade, your child is expected to
read these books and learn new information. This can often be
frustrating for children, particularly those who struggle with
reading. Therefore, helping your child become a strong
critical reader is very important.
Emphasizing
the Importance of Critical Reading at Home
The good news is that you can
begin stressing the importance of critical reading with your
child at a young age. Gradually building critical reading
skills while your child is in kindergarten, first, and second
grade is not a difficult task.
To emphasize the importance of critical reading at home, you
should first be a good role model for your child. If she sees
you using your reading skills to learn new things or to find
information, she is more likely to gain an appreciation for
reading and its usefulness.
Using “think aloud” strategies will also help your child
realize the importance of critical reading. For example, if
you are remodeling your house and you aren’t sure how to
install new windows, think aloud how you plan to find this
information. Tell your child, “I need to learn how to put
these new windows in. Luckily, I have this book that tells me
all about home improvement. I’m going to look for the word
‘windows’ in the index to find what page I should look on.”
Then, let your child watch you as you go through this process.
After turning to the page, tell your child, “See? These pages
give me the steps I need for putting in new windows. I’m going
to read each step so I can learn how to do this myself.”
Again, allow your child to watch you engage in this process.
There is no better way to demonstrate the importance of
critical reading skills than to let your child see you putting
those skills to work.
Helping Your
Child See the Importance of Critical Reading Skills for
Himself
You can also stress the importance of critical reading skills
to your child on a more personal level, too. For example, when
your child receives a new toy, don’t put it together for him
ahead of time. Instead, encourage him to read the directions
for its assembly and see if he can put it together himself.
Just be sure the directions are clear enough for him to
understand. As a parent myself, I know firsthand how difficult
some toy assembly directions can be to follow!
The importance of critical reading skills can be emphasized to
your child in other ways, as well. For example, if your child
wants to have a pet of his own, lead him through the process
of learning how to take care of the pet. Check books out from
the library and find information on the Internet together. In
this way, your child is learning the importance of critical
reading in a meaningful way that provides him with a reward –
a new pet!
The importance of critical reading may not become obvious
until your child reaches third grade. As an involved parent,
however, you must be sure to emphasize the importance of
critical reading before your child encounters it in third
grade. This will result in an easier transition for you, the
teacher and, most importantly, for your child.
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