Reimagining literacy: beyond reading

Artika Tyner

Books are fun, educational, inspiring, and much more. Everyone has their favorite book and might have read it multiple times. Books inspire a love of reading, learning, and growing.

Books also play a major role in the developmental stages of children. They nourish their imaginations, introduce them to new vocabulary, and help them build empathy and emotional awareness. First Educators play an integral role in guiding our children on this learning journey. “First Educator: refers to the fundamental primary role that parents and caregivers play in a person’s early development and education. They instill essential life skills, morals, and behaviors.”

First Educators use books as key learning tools by reading with children. This aids in forming a bond, where such connections are built through engaging in enjoyable activities in a relaxed atmosphere. When our children are introduced to age-appropriate and culturally relevant material, it broadens their horizons. They can envision a world with infinite possibilities. Therefore, First Educators should adopt methods that work for them in establishing the habit of reading in their children.

Some children may be more drawn to books and thus will naturally read more often on their own. I was this child, and still today I never leave home without a book to read. Other children will require a routine from the initial stages. This makes it easier to develop a habit over time. The effort put into reading activities will strengthen the bond between the community of caring adults and our children.

I interviewed Nancy Loewen, an author of over 150 children’s books, to learn more about key tools for building a culture of reading in our homes and communities. She shed light on how children can connect with books in different ways aside from reading. She also shared insights from her handout entitled: What Can You Do with a Book? (besides reading it!).

Q: What inspired you to create this handout?

A: About 10 years ago, I served two terms in Reading Corps (a program in AmeriCorps). I visited three family daycares in St. Paul, working with children ages three to five. Our goal was to teach pre-reading skills to make sure kids were ready for kindergarten.

Q: What was the experience like on a day-to-day basis?

A: One of the main parts of the program was the Repeated Read Aloud. We read the same book every day for five days. Each time we focused on something a little different: prediction, feelings, real-life connections, letter names and sounds, and, of course, vocabulary. We learned three new words every day, 15 by the end of the week.

Q: Which part of the program excited you the most?

A: My favorite element of the Repeated Read Aloud was the “What Is It?” bag. For this activity, we brought in everyday objects related to the book. Kids loved trying to guess what might be in the bag. One child guessed “a giant squid” every single time. When the object was revealed, we passed it around and made as many observations about it as we could.

Q: What is your takeaway from this experience?

A: My Reading Corps experience made me aware of just how many opportunities for learning there can be in a book. Reading a book with a child is wonderful in and of itself, but it doesn’t need to stop there. Books can be a springboard into all sorts of other conversations, activities, and connections. That’s why I created this handout for Leaders Are Readers. I hope it will inspire parents, caregivers, and kids to make the most of their favorite books.

What can you do with a book?
(besides reading it!)
First Educators can engage in learning beyond reading the pages of the book. Nancy shares these fun and interactive activities to support the learning journey:
• Pick a favorite part of the story and illustrate it.
• Redesign the book cover.
• Make character trading cards. Draw a character on the front of a card and write up a few details or traits on the back of the card. Repeat as needed!
• Write or tell how the story could have ended differently.
• Make up a different title.
• Read the book out loud and use silly or dramatic voices for the different characters.
• Share a part of the book that reminds you of someone you know or even your own life.
• Compare the story to another story you know.
• Connect the story to something happening in the real world.
• Write a letter to a character. You could ask a question or give advice. (Then you can pretend you are that character and write back!)
• Make a bookmark with a short note about why others should read the book.

Reading a book alone does not guarantee comprehension. To understand what is being read requires reimagining what literacy is. Activities built around books can shed more light on the books, nurture cognitive functioning, develop language skills, and support memory function. It also benefits our children socially, as it helps to develop emotional intelligence. Our children will understand our communities better and cultivate the seeds of leadership while improving their communication skills.

Through her organization, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, Dr. Artika Tyner offers resources to foster literacy and education.