12 tricks parents need to make reading less painful, according to #1 teacher
After leaving school with just two GCSE qualifications, father-of-four Jacob Mitchell knows the value of literacy.
He turned his life around by going to college and training to be a teacher, where he discovered that melodies and rapping could help him learn – a technique he used in the classroom with his students.
4
Jacob was named National Teacher of the Year and rose to global fame four years ago when a video of him rapping The Gruffalo for his children was viewed five million times before being picked up by US presenter Ellen DeGeneres.
It led to him signing a record and TV contract before leaving teaching two years ago to work full-time as a Grammar MC and English education consultant.
Now he has a Sky Kids show called Wonder Raps, 116,000 followers on Instagram and a YouTube channel full of captivating raps from classic storybooks. He is also about to embark on a solo tour.
New data has been released to coincide with World Book Day 2024, for which MC Grammar is an ambassador, has found that 30 percent of children say they would enjoy reading more if it were fun.
READ MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S BOOKS
The survey also found that 25 percent of children have to read books they don’t want to read, and 28 percent thought less nagging from adults would help them become more involved.
“Reading is a tool that every child needs to live a better life,” he says. “From reading a recipe to following directions, it helps us navigate the world.
“It’s cool too. I tell kids that to be a great rapper you have to be a fantastic reader so you can have the best vocabulary. I can’t do what I do without reading.
“But I think it’s such a sad statistic that there are currently a million children in Britain without a single book.”
Here, MC Grammar shares its top tips to help your children enjoy reading…
Ditch bedtime stories for breakfast stories
“I have four children aged between eight and one, so bedtimes can be chaotic when you have to give them a bath, put them in pajamas and turn off the lights.
“There are a lot of variables and fitting a story together can be rushed and stressful.
“People associate reading to children with bedtime, but stories are for every moment of the day.
“Reading together should suit you and your children, so why not try a story while they eat breakfast?”
Watch the sports section together
“Boys are traditionally seen as more difficult to read for pleasure, especially as they get older.
“Pick up a good newspaper like The Sun and go through the match reports with them.
“Maybe they are Arsenal fans or they like cricket?
“As long as they have access to literacy, that’s all that matters – and these reports should also spark debate and further analysis.”
Let them watch television – under one condition
“Television can be a brilliant tool to enhance their reading enjoyment, you might be surprised.
“But you have to turn the volume down and turn on the subtitles so they can read the show instead of listening.
“Research shows that this can double the chance that your child will leave school as a proficient reader.
“Campaign Turn on the subtitles recently launched a service called Caterpillar Captions, which provides broadcasters with an academically approved font with 99.9 percent accuracy.
“You can search for a Blue Caterpillar logo on your favorite channels and streaming services to find them.”
Take advantage of the bond between brothers and sisters
“We often let my eldest daughter, who is eight, read to the second youngest child, who is two.
“This gives us the freedom to interact with the other children or do chores while she can work on her expressions, her tone and her vocabulary.
“Meanwhile, her brother or sister is being read to without us having to rush and they see their ‘cool’ older sister doing it.
“It also builds their bond. Reading brings people together and creates special memories.”
4
There is no such thing as ‘bad’ reading
“Books are magical, but any form of reading will benefit them.
“Pick up magazines, comics and newspapers to have around the house.
“Go for a walk and ask them to read the signpost or ask them to read you the shopping list at the supermarket and check the prices.
“Making a cake and following the instructions is also reading.
“Literacy is all around us and using daily reading builds confidence.
“I too always prefer a physical book to a screen, especially for babies and toddlers who need to develop their motor skills.
“But if a Kindle or iPad is the only way to engage them in reading, then do what you have to do.
“This technology is the future and we cannot deny that.”
Books don’t need words
“Viewing wordless picture books with small children will still benefit their vocabulary.
“You need to ask them what the images mean and develop skills such as inference and deduction.
“As long as you stimulate discussion and conversation, it is valuable.
“I also like looking at the endpapers of books – the pages between the covers and the stories.
“They often have hidden illustrations that feel like a shared secret and start a conversation.”
MC Grammar’s 6 MUST READ Books for Kids
Which books would MC Grammar save from his bookshelf in the event of a fire? These are his favorite six…
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
“The cross-curricular links in it are just brilliant. You learn all the vocabulary about colours, numbers, days of the week and food – and the life cycle of a butterfly.”
Guess how much I love you? by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
“I think it is a wonderful book to introduce the word love to children and the idea of limitless love.”
Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
“What a book about rebellion, faith and solidarity. It illustrates the limitless potential you have when you find a great group of friends. Plus the heartbreak when the boy comes along and cuts them off.”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
“I love that there was a world on the other side of a wardrobe. It’s such a simple concept, but the resulting story is incredible.”
Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
“I loved the horror of The Twits, but Matilda sums up exactly what books do. This girl has nothing and is alone, but she has magical worlds and incredible knowledge all coming from one place. And it furthers the value of the library .”
Miracle by RJ Palacio
“It teaches the next generation what it means to be an incredible person and what can happen when we are accepting and inclusive, kind and caring. Auggie’s journey is an inspiration to everyone who reads it.”
Use their love of movies and video games as inspiration
“Explain to them that everything they see on television and in the movies, every YouTube video, every song, every video game, has a script.
“The writer took those ideas from a cauldron of influences around them and to write it down they needed vocabulary.
“Just like the actors and presenters need literacy to read and perform them.
“Star Wars started as an idea in someone’s head – and it became a masterpiece.
“A number one song started as a word and now it’s a magical memory for many of us. It’s very inspiring.”
And you don’t have to read the book first
“People always say ‘book before movie,’ but if you have a child who isn’t interested in reading, use the movie as a gateway to the book.
“For example, watch The Grinch with them and then offer to watch it together to see if the character descriptions reflect the casting or if the plot is different.
“If they loved the story on screen, they’re more likely to engage with the written version.”
Don’t read a book from beginning to end
“There is no law that says you have to start at the beginning of a book.
“Why not dive into a particularly exciting scene or chapter first to whet their appetite?
“If they like Harry Potter, skip to an important section and let them read it, rather than expecting them to slowly get through hundreds of pages.”
Let them choose their books – not adults
“Children don’t always get the chance to choose the books they read – so it’s no wonder they aren’t engaged.
“How would adults feel if they were forced to slog through a novel that didn’t appeal to them? We can put it down and pick up another one.
“Take them to the library and set them free. Tell them the choice is theirs and this time they can take three home with them to see if they like it.
“We are no longer using this free and essential resource.”
Parents need to put THEIR phones down
“Only a quarter of children say their parents relax by reading at home, compared to 56 percent who see them scrolling on their phone.
“That’s a really sad statistic and how can you expect them to want to read for pleasure if you don’t?
“Model the desired behavior by reading your own books in your spare time. Why don’t you all sit on the couch and read your books?
“I also say that adults should take the time to read children’s books too. With a picture book you can solve any problem in life.
“Tom Percival’s Ruby’s Worry is, for me, one of the best ever written.
“It captures that heavy feeling of fear, like a mortgage crisis, that hangs over you. The message of the book is how talking about it can release it.”
4
Textbooks are not essential
“As a teacher, I know that school reading books are sent home for a very valid reason.
“But they can be a chore for children to practice – and a chore for you to listen to – if the lyrics don’t pique their interest.
“If you argue with your child about the prescribed books, talk to the teacher about alternatives.
“They prefer that you find something that works for them and matches their interests, at their level, so they can stay involved.
“It’s the best way to create a reading habit and a desire to read for pleasure. Nothing should be forced.
“Add all the reading they do to their school log, not just the textbooks, to show they are trying.”
MC Grammar is an ambassador for World Book Day. His first tour starts later this month. More information at mcgrammar.com