Suggested Read Aloud: It’s So Amazing: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families
by: Robie Harris and Michael Emberley
Does it come as any surprise that student engagement soars when your kids get to select their own books? It shouldn’t! Even before our kids headed to Kindergarten, as preschoolers we’d head each week to the Comox branch of the Vancouver IslandPublic Library. As parents, bedtime was one of our favourite times of the day, as we’dcuddle together and share newly, selected library books or familiar favourites, which we’d read again and again!
We’d always chuckle when Grandma came over to visit and the kids picked: It’s So Amazing by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley. Just like the insect on the front cover asks hopefully avoiding the subject: “Can we talkabout something else? ANYTHING ELSE? Grandma would squirm and respectfully decline suggesting: “How about if we save that one for mom and dad to read aloud! Our kids selected this book again and again as just another favourite; because it talked about all the important stuff… that they wanted to learn more about! Recently, this book has a new 15th Anniversary edition; however, the content, pearls of wisdom and conversation starters are timeless!
Similarly, “school aged students are “more motivated to read when they have opportunities to make choices about what they read and how they engage in and complete literacy tasks.” (Gambrell, 2011) In his article, Seven Rules ofEngagement: What’s most important to know about motivation to read’ Gambrell further suggests: “Choice has been identified as a powerful force that allows students to take ownership and responsibility for their learning.” (Rettig &Hendricks, 2000) When students have autonomy or control over their learning at school; they’ll be one step closer to becoming autonomous, life-long learners with a powerful, confident voice!
It’s interesting to note that students often feel a significant disconnect between in- school and out-of-school reading due to the lack of choice in their reading materials at school. How might we ensure more ‘choice’ along with the other fourcomponents of literacy engagement including: rereading, support and accessibility?“Studies concerning students’ reading preferences have shown that choice is acritical literacy component.” (Harmon & wood, 2012, p.49) As parents and yourchild’s first teachers you might “support [your child’s reading development] by selecting four or five books related to their interests that are at the appropriate reading level and then allow your child to select which of these books they want to read. This is called a “bounded choice” because students still get to choose what
(Harmon & Wood, 2012, p. 50)
they want to read; however, the range of materials is narrowed to text at the appropriate reading level.” (Gambrell, 2011, p.175) If you have further questions about how you can support your child to self-select please ask your child’sclassroom teacher or your teacher librarian.
***Challenge yourself to support your child’s autonomy and control over their learning by embracing their choices!
References:
Gambrell, L. (2011). Seven rules of engagement: What’s most important to know about motivation to read. Reading Teacher, 65(3), 172-178. Retrieved from https://doi-org.proxy.queensu.ca/10.1002/TRTR.01024
Harmon, J., & Wood, K. (2012). Four components to promote literacy engagement in subject matter disciplines. Middle School Journal, 44(2), 49-57. Retrieved from https://doi-org.proxy.queensu.ca/10.1080/00940771.2012.11461847
Harris, R. H. (2014). It’s so amazing!: A book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.