It once seemed, for many people, that nothing could beat the leisurely pleasure of perusing the morning paper, or the magical enjoyment of snuggling under the covers in preparation of a favorite bedtime story.
But now—as technology and culture continue to evolve at a dizzying pace—it seems people are more likely to reach for the newest version of Guitar Hero than a magazine, comic book, or classic novel.
“Never has there been a time when reading has had so much competition,” said Jeni Newell, a children’s librarian at the Santa Maria Public Library. “Now there are so many channels on TV and so many video games out there to choose from.”
The umpteen options of today’s wired world, Newell said, are affecting children’s reading proficiency levels and preventing them from developing an early love of reading.
“I used to visit classrooms and bring in books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear; Where the Wild Things Are; The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and all the children knew those books,” Newell said. “But now even the most basic books aren’t familiar to the kids.”
But technology isn’t the only culprit behind the lack of early childhood literacy, she said.
“Parents aren’t reading as much as they used to, either. We tend to do what’s fun and easy,” Newell explained. “And, of course, children model after their parents.”
Without someone to show them the importance—and value—of reading, Newell said, “the whole idea of going to school and why they’re there is lost on them. The link between the written and spoken language is not there.”
And teachers can only do so much on their own, especially considering the drastic cuts made to public education over the last year.
Because of the lack of funding, Newell said, many schools have had to go without an in-house librarian for the last couple of years. Instead, they rely on a district librarian to select and buy books, plan library curriculum, and other tasks.
“[The schools] have library clerks there to check in the books, and they’re called librarians by the kids, but they don’t have a school librarian credential,” Newell said.
To help the schools, the Santa Maria Public Library has started welcoming more classes through its doors and visiting more local schools to share books with the students.
To prepare for classroom visits, Children’s Library staff members will often interview individual teachers over the phone and then tailor the book selection to match the curriculum or other needs.
Such library programs—and other school-run programs—have led to a spike in language arts test scores in the Santa Maria Bonita School District, according to spokeswoman Maggie White. The language arts score bracket includes subjects such as reading comprehension and spelling, among others.
The district requires its students to read a certain amount of time at home each night, which must be approved by a parent. And it also encourages community members to get involved through special events like Read Across America’s Dr. Seuss Week.
But while the district does what it can to encourage reading, White said whether or not children are reading for pleasure can be difficult to measure.
Isa Ponce-Jimenez, executive director of the Central Coast Literacy Center, said there are many ways to develop a love of reading among children. The best way, she said, is to first get them involved in the story.
“Children have to become part of the story to enjoy it,” she said. “Even if it’s showing him the cover of a book or a picture and asking him what he can make out of it—you’re inventing reading at that level. It sparks creativity and a sense of inquisitiveness.
“In any subject it is important to know the why, the how, the who,” she said. “If those early habits aren’t learned—if the child loses that inquisitiveness—reading becomes meaningless.”
Ponce-Jimenez said children who learn those skills will be more prepared for the school setting.
“When the child goes to kindergarten, he knows how to ask questions and how to express needs and wants,” she said. “The child who doesn’t experience that—no one has shown him how to get involved in the story. … He’s in his own little shell, and already he’s behind and he doesn’t like school.”
Naturally, parents want their children to do well in school, but what if the parents don’t enjoy reading themselves?
To that, Ponce-Jimenez said: “It’s never too late to start. Come to the library. You’d be surprised how fun the library can be.
“What subject do you like?” Ponce-Jimenez said. “There are so many publications out there—there are not enough years in a lifetime to read them all.” m
Contact News Editor Amy Asman at aasman
@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 3, 2009.
