MC Grammar's Top Tips for Reading

‘Reading is amazing!’, ‘Readers and LEADERS’ and ‘Wowza, I Just found this voucher! Let me take a closer look – it says I get a free book!’ are just some of the lyrics from my raps that proclaim my passions to the world: books and reading.  

So when Waterstones asked me to write this blog entry, I said YES faster than Eminem rapping on Rap God! Why? Well, simply put, reading changed my life. Books fed me words, which, in turn, gave me a voice to speak my mind, to express myself and to be heard. True story! And since discovering these miniature portals, I have travelled far and wide. I have laughed and I have cried. I have worn a hundred shoes, most of them not even my size. And I have lived a thousand lives, one page at a time. I want all children to experience amazing adventures, and with these top tips hopefully they will. And yes, it is a journey, my friends – trust me, as a father of four, I know! But if reading remains a free choice, and FUN, then we should be all good in the hood. 

So, without further delay, here are my top tips:
 

Anytime

Stories are not just for bedtime. You can read or be read to anytime of the day. First thing in the morning, over breakfast, at breaktime, during lunch, after school, before bed . . . and even when the grown-ups go to bed – tucked under a duvet den with a torch. But shhhhhh! That’s top secret stuff! 

Anywhere

On your sofa, on your bed, in the car, in a den, at school, at your mates’, on a plane or on a train. Books are portable magic – you can take them anywhere, and they will take you everywhere! 

Anyhow 

Your favourite computer game or movie began with words on a piece of paper. That’s when imagination jumps in, followed by creation. The same process applies to books. You can do anything with a book: read it, act it out, write a prequal or write a sequel. You can draw it, talk about it, review it, sing it . . . and you can even RAP IT! There’s no right way to read, only your way.  

Anything

Reading doesn’t just happen with a book in your hand. Reading is all around us. For example, reading can be an adventure into town or your local area with a little tour guide leading and reading the way. Or it could be a surprise trip to a really cool comic store to discover a fantasy world hidden in pages and pages of marvel and wonder. How about the match report on your favourite team? You can even read it in a commentator’s voice or as the club’s manager. Wait! Have you ever tried reading TV? Now this is epic, and so simple. Just turn the volume down and put the subtitles on. Gamechanger!  

Anyone

Read to mum, read to dad, read to your sister, read to your brother, read to your grandpa or grandma . . . you can even read to the dog. Why not?! See, it doesn’t matter who you read to just as long as you are reading to someone. This exchange builds confidence, and with confidence comes fluency and all of those lovely flourishes like tone and intonation. But you must have an attentive audience! So, make a big deal of it. Drop everything and read together! Make books/magazines/newspapers/poems/you-name-it a priority in your home. See reading as a form of entertainment, not just education. You can snuggle up or stand up. You can whisper or get wild and read out loud. Whatever works for your performance and that world of words. Just remember the golden rule: when someone is reading, be present to appreciate the gift. 

I hope these tips help you with your young reader’s journey.  

Keep reading and keep rapping!  

MC Grammar