Maria Salvadore
Page by Page
Maria Salvadore

Getting Ready to Drop Everything and Read — Out Loud

It’s been called many things: SSR (Sustained Silent Reading), DIRT (Daily Independent Reading Time), and DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). But no matter what it’s called, research indicates that children who read for pleasure everyday are likely to read more proficiently.

But the joy of reading begins much earlier when a caring adult reads aloud to a child.

What do you read aloud to a young child? Whatever interests them! My Car by Byron Barton (Greenwillow) takes a colorful and informative look at cars with a surprise ending. Imaginative children who like to play dress up enjoy Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy (HarperCollins).

There will be a special day in April to mark DEAR. It’s in honor of a special birthday. Some fantastic resources have been pulled together if you want to get a jump on DEAR Day activities.

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
March 6, 2007
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