Interview with Carol Boles - Getting Kids to Read

Carol Boles is a former Reading Specialist and a freelance writer. As a former reading teacher I knew she would have some great ideas for getting kids to read. I interviewed her and she has some great suggestions you can use with your own family.

Tell my blog readers about your previous job as a Reading Specialist.

Carol: I was an elementary school Reading Specialist in several Kansas City area schools for eleven years.

Do you have suggestions for how parents can get their kids to read more during the remaining weeks of summer?

Carol: First, schedule a time the whole family can sit down and read together. Next, if they're just learning to read - read aloud to them. Also, parents need to help their children select books to read, then do some paired reading together. That is, read the text aloud with them. As you know, children love it when their parents give them their undivided attention.

Do you have tips for parents with reluctant readers?

Carol: Read aloud and do paired reading with them. Talk about what's going on in the stories. When parents participate in reading development, children are more apt to work on learning how to read.

What books do you recommend for kids (by age group)? Are there particular books that kids are really excited about?

Carol: The genre of magic is very popular now, i.e. Harry Potter. Really kids need to figure out what kinds of books they enjoy reading. However, parents need to help them figure this out by providing opportunities to browse books at the library and the bookstore. Get your child to the library or the children's section of the bookstore and browse the titles and read the book jacket description.

What do you think about kids reading serial novels, comic books, magazines and graphic novels?

Carol: I think it's great. It doesn't matter what they're reading as long as they're practicing reading. Although, I'm not sure what you mean when you say graphic novels.

How important is it for parents to read with young children (Kindergarten or 1st grade) who are just learning to read?

Carol: Very important - When parents read aloud to their children they are modelling good reading and showing their children reading is an important skill to develop.

How can a parent tell if their child is progressing appropriately with their reading skills?

Carol: If a child is on grade level then they can easily complete (have success) with reading exercises and reading related activities in school.

Do you have any other advice for parents who want their children to take more interest in reading?

Carol: Provide opportunities for them to read. Take them to the library and bookstores. Immerse them in literature.

Thank you for all of your great advice Carol and good luck with your writing career. I'm sure that as a former Reading Specialist you have great ideas for writing material that children will love.

If you want to read more of Carol's tips you can visit her blog at http://www.teacherspetplace.blogspot.com.