Why I Write for Beginning Readers

I love to write for kids! Those who are beginning readers are especially fun (and challenging) to write for. Here are four reasons I love to write for beginning readers.

1. Beginning readers are just mastering the print word. They are super excited about being about to read stories and Bible truths for themselves.
2. Beginning readers love to read for others. They will read a fiction story or a Bible storybook again and again - to anyone who will listen! What a privilege for an author to be a part of that witness through young voices.
3. Beginning readers are school-aged. Whether they attend a public school, a Christian school, or are homeschooled, they are starting to be confronted with new ideas. Some of those do not reflect Bible teachings. Not only do beginning readers explore their faith, they begin to defend it through their reading.
4. Beginning readers grow to be middle grade readers. I love writing for that age group, too. Read all about it here.

Do these characteristics sound like the beginning readers you know? What would you add?

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Notes from Carol

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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore

Beginning Reader Bible Stories

Parents know that the good old days of summer are perfect for visiting the library. This is especially true for the child in the six to eight year old range who is just mastering reading skills. The many Bible stories available in the easy reader format are close to my heart (as a parent, teacher, and writer of Sunday School curriculum).

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105   (NIV)

What do beginner Bibles offer the new reader?

• a chance to explore the Scripture for himself
• an opportunity to practice his newly acquired reading skills
  

Beginning Bible Readers at Home

Do you want to encourage your child to read Bible stories for himself?

• Visit your local library or Christian bookstore.
• Help your child select some Bible storybooks at his reading level.
• Give your child the opportunity to read them to you again and again. (Kids learn from repetition.)
• Suggest that your child read one of the stories aloud for bedtime devotional.
• Have a Bible story play. Act out the story using simple props found around the house.

Kid Ministry Idea

How can VBS and Sunday School teachers encourage the new Bible reader?

• Establish an easy reader check out system. Allow kids to borrow one or two books to read at home.
• Create a Bible readers club. Fashion it after the summer reading club at the local library. Reward kids for beginning Bible stories they have read.
• Have guest readers. Encourage one child to read the focus Bible story for the other kids

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Tweetables

What do beginner Bibles offer the new reader?   Tweet this!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105  (NIV)   Tweet this!

How can VBS and Sunday School teachers encourage beginning readers?   Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Make Mini Books with Beginning Readers

Preschool and kindergarten children learn the alphabet and the sounds that go with each letter. Soon they are pairing the print word with familiar pictures. For example, they see a picture of a baby in a book. The word baby is under the picture . . .  The child begins to read.

Parents and VBS teachers can help kids use simple pictures to create a beginning reader booklet: What Did God Make? Make one page for each letter. Then, add pictures with the word for things that God made. The pictures might be foods, animals, people, weather, or landforms. 

Aa 

God made apples

ants

alligators

astronauts

apes

Kids can draw the pictures. They can be cut from magazines. You can also get some great pics from Pinterest. Here are some examples to get you started on this project.

  
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Tweetable

Parents and VBS teachers can help kids use simple pictures to create a beginning reader booklet.    Tweet this!


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Notes from Carol

Do you work with tweens? I hope the posts on my blog are helpful and offer some new ideas. Maybe you work with younger children. I am changing up my post categories. I want to include activities and kid min ideas for beginning readers in addition to the topics that have been in my blog.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore