As we know, the early revelation revealed to our beloved prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was to read.
Subhanallah, reading to kids and they reading to me [circle time], pondering over the real stories of the prophets, companions, heroes and everlasting after life is a thrilling moment in my life. It is something that connects our minds to the event, era and scene of the story.
Reading is something that rekindles the dead heart and empowers our spirit. However, the pleasure and fueling of the soul comes only if the child is meeting the requirements of a good reader.
I would like to quote some of the characteristics a reader needs, to enjoy his reading, according to the National Institute of Literacy:
I would like to quote some of the characteristics a reader needs, to enjoy his reading, according to the National Institute of Literacy:
- Fluency: being able to read quickly and accurately. Fluent readers recognize words automatically. They are able to group words quickly to help them get the meaning of what they read. When fluent readers read aloud, they read smoothly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, like speech…
- Vocabulary and knowledge of the world: vocabulary is the name for words we must know in order to listen, speak, read and write effectively. Time and again researchers have found strong connection between the size of children’s vocabularies, how well they comprehend what they read, and how well they do in school… Children learn vocabulary in two ways: indirectly, by hearing and seeing words as they listen, talk, and read directly by parents and teachers teaching them the meaning of certain words. Vocabulary and knowledge of the world are, of course, very closely tied together. Children who know something about the world are much better able to understand what they read about in school.
- Comprehension: comprehension means getting meaning from what we read. It is the heart of reading. If children can sound out the words but do not understand what they are reading, they are not really reading.
Making children connected to books from a tender age is a great way to make them learn and get to know many things easier and quicker.
By the way, here are some shots of the project.
The book we used for the project
Getting to know the parts of a book
A mini booklet on how to handle a book
The chapter she chose for the comprehension work was “pain and hope”
May Allah make us among those who read and practice the truth!
