Families recognize that the right phrases can be a game-changer in communicating with kids, diffusing tense moments, opening up new conversations, and creating moments of connection. With so many families seeking to boost kids’ enthusiasm for reading, we’re all eager for new language to use during read-alouds to help kids find more delight in reading and books.
That’s why we were thrilled to learn from Lily Howard Scott, an NYC-based parent, educator, and author who supports teachers and school leaders around the country. She’s also the author of The Words that Shape Us — a book that’s all about how impactful the words we use with kids are, both in the classroom and outside of it.
Based on the trends she sees with students, she tells us, “It’s no secret that kids’ interest in books — whether reading independently or listening to a story — has declined. Children’s attention spans (and ours, too) are withering under a nonstop barrage of screen-based distractions.” With this and so many other factors, Howard Scott adds, “If we want kids to love reading, they need to spend time immersed in real books — reading them cover-to-cover, chatting with peers in book clubs.”
So what can families do today to make reading not only enticing but joyful?
Howard Scott has some recommendations.
“One small thing we can do is lean away from using language that celebrates a “correct” response to reading and instead into language that celebrates kiddos’ personal responses to literature. Language that celebrates the magic of reading,” she says.
After passing their local bookstore, Lily noted that even her three-year-old son commented that “books are magic.” This is a sentiment she fully embraces: “They certainly are: squiggly shapes on a blank page represent sounds, which in turn come together to create words, which then mingle together in unexpected ways to whip up mind-movies, connections, epiphanies about ourselves and the world around us; the list of wonderful things books give us could go on forever. Kids bring their unique background knowledge to each book they encounter, and when parents use language that celebrates reading as a one-of-a-kind interaction between a child and the text, engagement soars.”
Subtle shifts in the language we use can have profound impacts on kids and really boost joy around books. Here are 4 phrases from Lily to try on (or even adapt) in your next read-aloud. She encouraged families to see what feels right!
4 Phrases to Use With Your Readers
1. I’d love to hear about your mind movie.
Explain to your kiddo that the pictures that pop into their head when they imagine the story have never been imagined before, ever, even though thousands of other people have read the very same book. Each one of your child’s “mind movies” is unique and worth sharing. And when your little one knows you’re excited to hear all about their mind movies, their visualizations become richer. You’ve triggered a virtuous cycle!
2. What windows and mirrors do you find in this book?
Of reading, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote: “Children need windows and mirrors. They need mirrors in which they see themselves and windows through which they see the world.” Explain to your child that, when they read or listen to a story, they’ll find mirrors (reflections of their identities and experiences) and windows (insights into identities and experiences that are different from their own). Conversations about the windows and mirrors your child discovers in a particular book can trigger fascinating, connected discussions.
3. Turn on your imagination — I spotlight you! Step into this character's perspective and I'll ask you a few questions.
Tell your child that "spotlighting" simply means inhabiting a character's perspective and sharing what that character might be thinking or feeling in a particular moment. Spotlighting is a creative, active way to bolster kids' reading comprehension; there is no such thing as an incorrect spotlight response. And, for children who struggle with decoding and need a break from reading aloud for a few minutes, spotlighting provides that joyful break while also keeping them in the world of the story.
4. Turn on your Birder Mindset. What delights you?
Explain to your child that a birder goes outside with binoculars and the hope that they'll see something beautiful. In much the same way, while listening to a read-aloud, kids can keep a close ear or eye out for elements of author or illustrator craft that delight them (perhaps a silly turn of phrase, or an illustration that stops them in their tracks). Readers find what they look for, and when kids keep their Birder Mindset on high alert, they notice flashes of humor, beauty, and joy in the story that they'd otherwise miss. Younger kiddos love tucking away one special, secret noticing as they listen, and when you finish reading, they can share it with you.
Enjoy trying these phrases out with your readers and use your Birder Mindset to watch out for growing signs of delight during your read-alouds.
Explore some of our editor’s favorite books for your next read-aloud below. You can find all these books and more at The Scholastic Store.
About Lily Howard Scott
Lily Howard Scott, MSEd, is a NYC-based educator and author who supports teachers and school leaders around the country. She presents regularly at conferences, and her writing about education has been published in the Washington Post and Edutopia, among other publications. She's also the author of the book The Words That Shape Us: The Science-Based Power of Teacher Language.
