As I read Extra Yarn, I was surprised at the personal connections and memories that were awakened by the creative illustrations and text. One of my memories I shared with my grandchildren was that my grandmother taught me to knit. My first project was a scarf. However, my grandmother’s visit ended before I was done with the scarf. Similar to Annabelle’s knitting, the scarf went on and on and on until Grandma’s next visit several months later. Having connections to the story made it come alive for me. Activating Prior Knowledge is a Reading Comprehension Best Practice that helps a reader hold onto a story by connecting new experiences and information to what the brain already knows. Sharing with your child as you go through the book models and validates the importance of forming connections to the story in order to increase enjoyment and understanding.
Before you begin to read, you may think that you don’t have anything to share with your child. As Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins say in their wonderful book 7 Keys to Comprehension (page 48), “You might think you have nothing of interest to say to your child as you read. You’re wrong. Your memories and childhood experiences are fascinating her. Immerse your child in your memories. It helps her build background knowledge. She’ll realize all that books can spark while strengthening her grasp of language.” Share whatever connections open in your mind. It might be a connection to something in your life, something in another book, or something in the world-at-large. Everything that you share will make the book memorable to your child.
In the Parade magazine (February 17th, 2013), author Bruce Feiler shared some information from his book The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More. From the article: “When a team of psychologists measured children’s resilience, they found that the kids who knew the most about their family’s history were best able to handle stress. These children have a strong sense of ‘intergenerational self’ – they understand that they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that families naturally experience both highs and lows.”
So dig into your memories and share! Don’t worry about interrupting the story. These interruptions help the story to find its resting spots in our long-term memory. You will be surprised at how your connections increase the listener’s comprehension and interest.