Reading: Family
Literacy
Book-Friendly Bedrooms
Today's Snack: Put some tuna on a . . . BED of lettuce, and drink a
glass of tomato juice.
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Here are some great ideas for
changing a bedroom into a haven for readers. What you're after is a space with
good lighting that encourages reading, promotes creativity, speaks to the
student's interests and hobbies, and displays his or her favorite possessions -
which, we hope, includes books!
A book-friendly bedroom:
Never has a TV, video games, or a computer. Keep all electronics in the
"public" parts of the home, such as the family room, where you can keep an eye
on what your student is doing, and monitor the length of use.
Always has a bookshelf. It can display objects as well as books. It might
hold all the books in the usual, vertical position, or show some stacked on
their sides and some displaying beautiful covers. Fun bookends can polish off
the look.
Has an interesting, creative theme. Books may carry out the theme, too. The decorations
tickle the imagination and make the owner of the room, as well as the visitors,
want to know more about the theme - which they can get from books! Examples:
Adventure
Animals
Art
Bugs
Comic books
Dogs
Fantasy and magic
Favorite characters
Humor and laughter
Innovators and
history-makers
Medieval times
Mysteries
Myths and legends
Science and nature
Space
Store books creatively. You might display several
adventure books in a stack with a pair of binoculars on top in front
of a framed antique map. A grouping of mystery books might have a magnifying
glass nearby, and books about the ocean could have a beautiful seashell. A set
of joke books might store a whoopee cushion. Books about faraway places might
be stacked under a globe or a treasure chest.
Make a comfortable reading corner or
buy a reading pillow for the bed. A
beanbag on a fluffy rug with a good lamp nearby makes a wonderful place to
read. If your child likes to read on the bed, a reading pillow can give the
back and neck support needed to keep turning those pages for a long time.
Provide a book listing system. Whether you give your child a special box in which
to keep index cards with each book's title and author, or a reading scrapbook
in which he or she can jot down a few lines about each book, it's a great idea
to encourage your student to keep track of all the books he or she has read and
celebrate as that list gets longer and longer!
