Eliora Woods, left, reads with her grandmother, Reggie Hankin, during JCDS’ May 2011 Grandparents Day. /Alisa Grace PhotographyPROVIDENCE –
Grandparents’ Day is a beloved tradition at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDS). The kids can’t wait to show their grandparents their classrooms and do planned projects with them. Inevitably, throughout the building, we will find grandparents reading to their grandkids or grandkids reading to their grandparents.
Not only is reading together an enjoyable experience but it teaches children to read well and promotes their success in school and in life. Grandparents are experienced teachers, who can help their grandkids develop reading skills and a love for reading.
Here are some reading tips:
• Create Reading Collections: Research children’s reading lists, and then contribute meaningful print and digital reading material to your grandkids’ home libraries. Books are still valuable for home libraries. Contributions should include Jewish-themed books, with a variety of genres: Include classics as well as the latest bestsellers. Add a book that you loved as a child or one that you frequently read to your own children. If you are giving a book as a gift, make it a memorable treasure by inscribing the book with your name, date, comments and a drawing.
• Jewish Reading Materials: Give your grandkids an exceptional gift by enrolling them in The PJ Library, which sends them high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music each month. Visit the Kar-Ben Publishing website (karben.com) for more terrific Jewish books. Follow Tami Lehman-Wilzig’s blog, “Zvuvi’s Israel,” for fascinating stories about Israel.
• Read Aloud: Studies indicate that the best way to help children build the knowledge needed for success in reading is to read aloud to them every day. Try to preread the books you plan to read and note what pages you will emphasize, stop and discuss or note an illustration. “Act it up” and read with plenty of expression. Let the children interrupt the story to ask questions, talk about something or act out a character. Make the story come alive.
• L’dor va-dor, from generation to generation: Share your family history: Grandparents are the keepers of the family history. Share family stories by storytelling or when reading a book aloud. At a holiday gathering, describe the way your family celebrated the holiday when you were young. If available, show old holiday photos to your grandchildren; you will be surprised at what they will notice.
Besides the story, a book’s illustrations may prompt memories of a family story. For example, an illustration may include a three-family house that reminds you of the three-story home your grandparents lived in many years ago. Stop reading and recount your family’s story. These family stories become part of your grandchildren’s memories that they will pass on to their children.
Reading with your grandkids is an enriching and magical experience. The sound of your loving voice reading a story fosters a powerful bond and creates a lifelong memory.
KAROLYN WHITE is librarian and communication manager at JCDS. Visit her Library Blog at the community page of jcdsri.org for more information about reading. Contact her at 751-2470, ext. 82 or kwhite@jcdsri.org
