8/8/2019 Let's Make Reading More Fun!

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LET’S MAKE READING MORE FUN!

From the moment they are born children love to play. Okay, maybe in thefirst couple of weeks they are more interested in eating, sleeping, andclean diapers, but before you know it playing takes center stage. For infants and toddlers playing is learning and learning is fun.

Eventually, learning becomes more structured and, unfortunately for many,it is no longer as much fun. For some it is the frustration of trying to graspmore difficult skills or higher levels of thinking. For others it is the boredomassociated with not being challenged enough. Whatever the reason, it isour job as parents, educators, and care givers to try to keep the fun inlearning. When children are having fun they are more engaged and moremotivated and, therefore, they learn more.

So what can we do? In a word, manipulatives! TheMerriam Webster Dictionary defines manipulatives as:objects (as blocks) that a student is instructed to usein a way that teaches or reinforces a lesson. Soundsfamiliar doesn’t it? What are some of the first toys webuy our children? Blocks! We surround our infants andtoddlers with colorful manipulatives to encourage their development.

When I started looking into the use of manipulatives in education, I was notsurprised to discover that as far back as the 1800’s educators werepromoting the use of manipulatives. Johann Pestalozzi (1746-1827) thefamous Swiss educator, encouraged using sensory experiences to activelyengage students in the learning process. Later, Dr. Maria Montessori(1870-1952), an Italian educator and physician, also recognized theimportance of using manipulatives to motivate and build confidence inchildren.

For many years, educators across the country have been incorporatingmanipulatives into their math curriculum. Encouraged by such entities as

the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), manyelementary school classrooms are filled with geoboards, tan grams,pattern blocks, tiles, cubes, coins, and decks of playing cards. Math isbecoming more and more hands on and a lot more fun to learn.

What’s the next step? Manipulatives for reading. According to the NationalAssessment of Education Progress (NAEP) 2009 Reading Performance

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Results, about two-thirds (67 percent) of fourth graders performed at or above Basic Level ( partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skillsthat are fundamental for proficient work at each grade). Only about one-third (33 percent) scored at or above Proficient level (solid academicperformance). A mere eight percent performed at the Advanced level(superior performance). These results are consistent with 2007 results andonly slightly higher than 1992 results. Obviously there is room for improvement!

Teachers and parent volunteers have spent countless hours in copy roomsaround the country with paper, scissors, glue, and other supplies trying tocreate useful manipulatives for reading. Fortunately, many educationalproduct manufacturers are introducing exciting new reading manipulatives.Going beyond the standard alphabet blocks and magnetic letters, theseproducts add fun to the process of learning words, sentences, and

grammar. One such product, introduced by Paradigm Devices , is calledWord Wheels ( www.word-wheels.com ).

Word Wheels are hand heldreading manipulatives that add theelement of fun to reading. Fromdeveloping word familiarity and finemotor control in pre-readers, to theadvancement from sight words tosentence comprehension in older

children, Word Wheels engage andentertain. By simply changing four words in two sentences WordWheels creates surprisingresults, from logical to whimsical. What makes it great? It's all under child’scontrol! Available in a variety of reading levels and subject matters, WordWheels are perfect for the home, classroom, and even in the car.

As I reflect on my own children’s journey into reading I recall the bookswith plastic shapes that could spin or slide, or books with sound effects

being the early favorites. However, by kindergarten, books were books andreading was reading. While I still read to my girls (now 10 and 12) everynight, they truly enjoy reading their own books. Their journey was notalways smooth sailing, but in the end the love of a good story has madethe trip to independent reading worth while. With increased focus onreading manipulatives more and more children can find their way from A,B, C’s to Percy Jackson or Guardians of Ga’Hoole with enthusiasm andsuccess.