Earlier this month The Nation’s Report Card showed us two decades of growth for American students in reading and math were wiped away by just two years of pandemic-disrupted learning. There is a significant literacy crisis in America today with 25 million children in the U.S. that cannot read proficiently, according to national test scores. Literacy is so important and Family Entourage is sharing activities and resources to help reduce the literacy gap.
HANDS ON Reading
With Chief Reading Officer, Levar Burton at the helm, this app uses hands-on technology and automatic speech recognition to help develop critical reading skills. Learning to read doesn’t have to feel like work, or school, rather it can be fun and game-like with the help of hands-on technology that magically comes alongside helping children through their journey. Osmo has created a personalized reading program developed with educators geared for kids 5-7 years old to build their skills and confidence.
We love Osmo because it combines hands-on learning with digital play and the new Reading Adventure series adds in automatic speech recognition technology to cover critical reading skills. For example, when my son was playing the game and he mispronounced a word, the game could tell and had him try again. Kids read physical story books, use an interactive crystal wand, and what they do gets translated into the digital world, like magic. I love that it also includes skill building games and activities, and adapts to meet the skill level of the child for a more dynamic, fun reading experience. Learning how to read is such a foundational key to all aspects of their learning journey, but if a child gets frustrated or discouraged it can affect this. That is why I love Osmo. It makes practicing reading and learning sight words fun. The kids beg me to play and I love that it is a positive form of screen time. We also couldn’t be more excited that Osmo named Levar Burton as their Chief Reading Officer. We grew up watching Reading Rainbow and it helped instill a love of reading. Burton will share insights and information with parents and educators on ways to inspire kids to increase their reading time. A champion of early childhood education, Burton will also make special appearances to engage with kids, families, and educators in an effort to reduce the literacy gap.
The average parent spends 2-3 hours per day in the car doing pick up and drop off for school and activities. Even though we have a TV in the car, our family’s rule is that unless the car ride is the length of a movie, we don’t turn the TV on. Instead, each week, I have the kids select different books and activity books to put in the backseat. These can be books they look at while we drive, when we wait for a sibling to do an activity or if we go to a restaurant.
Our kids love the Usborne Lift the Flap series. From Computers and Coding to How Things Work, the series has so many titles. The kids enjoy lifting the flaps and learning more about different subjects. Even if they aren’t quite able to read on their own, the books are so engaging they keep even the youngest readers involved. As parents, we love how it sparks a curiosity in them. They want to learn more about different subjects. For younger readers, we love the interactive books from Kane Miller. From helping put bandaids on different animals in All Better to sorting laundry in Little Helpers. This is great to keep kids busy even if they can’t quite read yet. They can still interact with the books.
Another one of our favorite things to have on hand are wipe clean and activity books. Whether your child wants to practice writing different letters and words or wants to do a fun sticker book. We like to keep a few in the car when a meeting or activity runs longer than expected. It can be a fun way to keep them engaged and have something “new” to do.
Environment makes a big difference, from lighting to your surroundings, creating the perfect space can actually make kids, and families, enjoy reading and thrive. We turn to Wonder & Wise to create comfortable and imaginative reading areas in our home.
Did you know that children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week. So it’s vital for families to engage in reading together and for kids that already know how to read, consistency and frequency are key to continued success.
So from a fake fireplace to a teepee complete with wood stump poufs, a pop up campsite or a sleeping bag that can transport you in a canoe across the river… Wonder & Wise enhances the imagination mixing play with reading for a memorable experience for all.
Inspire LEADERS & READERS
Children love to read real stories about other children. They are inspired by their journey and what it took to achieve great things. Little People, BIG DREAMS does just that. The inspiring stories range from Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa and Neil Armstrong to Jane Austen, Elvis and Pele.
Now with more than 7.5 million copies sold worldwide, Little People, BIG DREAMS is translated into more than twenty languages and the series just continues to grow and expand, introducing children around the world to artists, trailblazers, and dreamers who each made a big impact in the world around them.
Our kids ask to be read, and read the stories all the time. Several cross over into each other’s stories depending on the time period and it is amazing how much history our little ones can piece together and how excited they get about each leader.
Plus Little People, BIG DREAMS has an Extras section with FREE resources, teacher guides, costume kits, coloring sheets, word searches and more.
