Want to get the whole family reading more? Creating book goals turns reading into a fun activity that your kids will look forward to in their free time. These are five tangible family reading goals teachers hope you make.
Goal 1: Add just one more book per night.
Reading one extra book to your young child each day can have a huge impact on their language development. That’s because just one daily book can expose them to an extra 78,000 words every year, according to a study from The Ohio State University. It’s okay if books are repeated!
And of course, if you don’t have a reading routine with your child in place already, an easy goal like reading one book per day together is a great place to start, says Franki Sibberson, a fifth grade teacher in Dublin, Ohio.
Goal 2: Have at least one conversation about books every day.
Be intentional about book talk, says Sibberson. For instance, at dinner, ask questions you might not know the answers to, such as, “What did you read today that you loved?” Talking about books gets kids more eager to read, and makes it a natural part of their everyday life.
You can also stoke excitement by talking about how you’re looking forward to certain new releases, and getting your child’s take on which ones they’re looking forward to the most.
Goal 3: Dive into poetry together.
“When we think of reading, we often forget the beauty that poetry can offer,” says Justine Bruyère, PhD, a former elementary school teacher and lecturer of reading education at Vanderbilt University. Poems can expand your child’s vocabulary and are easy to memorize because of their often rhyming, lyrical structure.
Sit down with a book of poems and let your child choose what appeals to them.