📓 What are reading behaviors?

"Take your handbook, it's no trick"

Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend

The very first time a kindergarten teacher meets a child, they can learn a million things just by handing their student a book...

They are looking to see if your child has reading behaviors.

For children 6 and under, reading behaviors are the ways a child engages with and relates to a book. Here are a few things they are looking for:

• Can your child identify the front and back of the book?
• Will they hold the book the right way (not upside down or backwards)?
• Can they identify the title (or at least take a really good guess)?
• Can they point to an individual letter? Can they identify a word?
• Can they follow along with their "reading finger?" (even if they can't read)
• Can they identify words and illustrations?

So go ahead, if you've got access to a little one (yes even toddlers can do this!), give it a try. If your child can't do one of these things, don't fret, it's easy to teach- the real commitment is reading consistently.

And if your baby is a little older, this is a great article on reading behaviors for you.

What's New?

📹 Christmas Past: The video I released last week is by far the video I'm most proud of. Click to hear my advice on fighting consumerism at Christmas, making magic for kids, and rejecting traditions. And if you'd be so kind to leave a comment, that will help other people see it too.

🎥 Christmas Present: This Saturday 12/9, I'll release my last video in 2023! I'm wrapping up with a holiday gift guide for teachers. Watch live with me Saturday at 10am eastern. Shoutout to Amanda and Ms. Moore who watched my premiere with me last week!

🎙️ Christmas Future: And the week of December 11, I'll have my final livestream this year. Got questions you'd like me to answer? Just respond to this email.

Things I Love (contains affiliate links)

🎂 Baked goods!: I love baking this time of year. I upgraded my loaf pan to this gorgeous braided design. It elevates all my bread and cakes. And if you're really into it, check out their full collection here and here.

🔪 Safety first: When I was 12, I sliced my hand open with a box cutter, I still have a scar on my hand. That's why I have a ceramic box cutter. It's safe to use and will slice anything. This is the one we have, but check out their selection, they have so many creative solutions.

📸 Perfect gift for tweens: This sticker printer is so fun! It connects with your phone so you can print pictures with cute designs onto stickers. I think any tweenager would have a blast with it.

Have a great week!