I am so excited and thankful for this opportunity to guest post here on Minds in Bloom! I’m Rachel from Rachel K Tutoring, and today I want to share about my desire for kids to read at home and to provide a free printable to go with it!
I was always a book nerd growing up. I loved the library, the smell of books, and getting lost in countless adventures. I was the one who was beyond ecstatic when a teacher said it was silent reading time, the one who brought a book everywhere with me, and the one who tried to finish assignments early so that I could read!
I owe a great deal of my love of reading and book nerdy-ness to my mom. I remember her reading to us all the time when we were young. We would read through whole series of books, including The Chronicles of Narnia and Little House on the Prairie. We always had books around the house, and we made many trips to the library to get even more. I was so blessed!
I know, however, that there are many homes with less books and less reading. Some families may be too busy to fit in reading or are not sure how to do it. Some may not be able to afford books and aren’t sure how to find cheaper options. Some kids may hate reading or be bored of it. My heart breaks for these homes. I want every child to grow up with a love of reading like I did and to be surrounded and saturated with all types of print. I want them to go on amazing adventures and learn incredible things, all from the comfort of their own home!
I have made this free Reading at Home printable for parents to use and for teachers to hand out at conferences or back to school events. I give ideas of who, what, when, where, why, and how to read. I know some of them may be common sense, but maybe to some parents, these could be great reminders. It is so incredibly important for kids to read and be read to at home. I hope these ideas can help make reading into a life-long habit!
Click here to download this printable from my TPT store!
Reading at Home
Who?
You! No matter how young or old you are!
What?
-
- Your favorite book series
- Newspaper
- Magazine
- Dictionary
- Online books like Starfall.com
- eBook
- Biography
- Cook book
- Events on a calendar
- Comic book
- Direction pamphlets
- Travel brochures
- Library books
When?
- When you wake up
- At a meal
- On the weekends
- Right before bed
- When you’re in the bathroom
- After dinner
- During any free time, even just a few minutes!
Where?
- On your bed
- On a comfy couch or chair
- Make a reading fort out of blankets, pillows, and couch cushions!
- At the table
- At a desk
- On the porch on a nice day
- In the bathroom
- In a special reading corner
- By a window
Why?
- To be a better reader!
- To do better in all subjects
- To learn about new places, people, and things
- To go on adventures without leaving your home!
How?
- Read to yourself
- Read to a parent or adult
- Read to a sibling
- Read to someone over the phone or video chat
- Have a parent or adult read to you
- Read to a pet
- Follow along with an audio book
Reading Resources
Check out some of these resources to make reading at home even easier!
Need more books in your house?
I know books can be expensive, but who says you have to buy everything new? There are so many different ways to get books for cheap!
Here are just a few ideas:
- Check out the libraries around you and see if they hold any used book sales. I have found great books at these and can get a lot of them for not much money at all!
- Garage/rummage sales – whenever I go to one I make a beeline to the books. Sometimes you can find practically new books for a steal!
- Facebook groups – find a local Facebook group that organizes buying/selling. People may post when they are having a garage/rummage sale, too.
- Ask family and friends if they have any used books they would like to donate.
- If, by chance, you’re having a baby shower, register for books! Or even ask for people to bring a book instead of a card. They don’t have to be brand new either!
- Ask for books for birthdays and holidays.
- Find used books on Amazon for a cheaper price.
- Of course, borrowing books from the library is free! What a great way to have access to all kinds of books in every genre.
Thanks for reading! I hope you can find these ideas helpful to get your kids/students reading more at home and to spread the love of reading. 🙂
I am a K-8 private tutor in Michigan who loves to read! 🙂 I also blog about free resources for parents and teachers and create resources in my TpT store. When I’m not working, you’ll find me reading, enjoying the outdoors (when Michigan is actually warm, ha!), and spending time with my dear family and friends. I would love to connect with you! You can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
Great read! I'm a big fan of garage/rummage sales as well 😀
great post. Nothing is better and more valuable than reading a book during your free time