The benefits of reading are HUGE - that's not a secret.  Getting kids to read - especially in the summer can be a challenge.  While there is nothing more special than to curl up with your child and read story after story with them, this is not always possible.  So, how can you help your child reap the benefits even when they can't, or don't, read to themselves?

Especially before children can read for themselves, and even afterwards - listening to books through the computer or favorite device can help bridge the gap, provide an enticing incentive, and make it easier for everyone.  As this fact from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy points out, children expand their vocabulary greatly through children's books.  They also gain schema (background knowledge), inspiration, creativity, and make connections in their thinking that wouldn't happen otherwise.

Here are some electronic book resources to try:

Tumble Books - your public library or school district may have a subscription to this web based resource.  Great children's books are online and read by a professional reader.  Here is the link to my communities public library.  There are many book choices so your child is sure to find many they will enjoy.

Storyline Online - this is another online resource that you can access.  Actors from the Screen Actor's Guild read popular children's stories.  Since they are professional actors, they make the stories really come alive!

YouTube - you can find anything on YouTube!  I've already added the search for "children's books read aloud" to the link.  Preview the options as the quality will vary.

Here are only a few of the options available to you.  Remember, REAL books are great but don't limit yourself, or your kids.  There are many ways to read and accessing literature through computers, iPads, Kindles, and other devices provide you with another hook to promote summer reading, vocabulary development and learning!

Many are familiar with the silent e at the end of a word and its role in magically making a vowel say its long sound.  But, did you know there are other roles for silent e?

Often it is thought that words without long vowel sounds are irregular and don't follow any rule.  Chances are, you weren't taught the rule that applies in those situations!  Here are some examples:
     

These are two syllable words and have a final stable syllable - a syllable with a consonant and le.  The silent e is used because every syllable has a vowel - in this case, a silent one!  You might  be thinking that the silent e in bugle makes the vowel long.  Actually, the vowel is long because it is an open vowel in the first syllable.  Because the vowel does not have a consonant to follow it in the syllable, and it's accented, it is long.  The word, stumble, has a short vowel in the first syllable because a consonant follows it in the syllable and keeps the vowel short.  Sound confusing?  Give yourself a moment to think about it and find some words to test out the rule.  Comment if you find one that might be an exception!