• About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe Now
  • Download App
  • Benefit Hub for Subscribers Only
SWHELPER - Social Work Helper
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Buy Merch
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Buy Merch
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER - Social Work Helper
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Dr. Seuss and Literacy: 60 Years of ‘The Cat in the Hat’

SWHELPERbySWHELPER
February 16, 2017
in Education, News
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare via EmailShare on Reddit
Roxanne Owens, chair and associate professor of Elementary Reading and Teacher Education in the College of Education, teaches Children’s Literature and serves as the editor of the Illinois Reading Council Journal. She is a sought after speaker on topics ranging from visual literacy to Dr. Seuss. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)

CHICAGO — Sixty years ago this March, Dr. Seuss put a hat on a cat and revolutionized children’s literature. “By rearranging simple words into whimsical, outlandish tales, Seuss made reading fun for children,” said Roxanne Owens, associate professor of elementary reading at DePaul University. When children find joy in reading, they’re more likely to practice the skills that develop early childhood literacy, said Owens.

To mark Seuss’s birthday and Read Across America Day March 2, Owens discusses Seuss’ contributions to literature and offers tips for parents to make reading a joy for their children.

“If you can get children to like reading, that can make a huge difference in their education,” said Owens, who has taught in DePaul’s College of Education for 25 years. “A child needs to associate reading with warmth, nurturing and success — not being told what he’s doing wrong,” she said.

Cartoonist and author Theodor Seuss Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, knew how to draw young readers in, said Owens. When “The Cat in the Hat” was published in 1957, most books in schools were structured, she explained. Standbys like the “Dick and Jane” books used foundational sight words – “she,” “he” and “it” — but lacked plot and weren’t particularly exciting to read, according to Owens.

Seuss took those sight words, the first words children memorize, and turned them into rhyming classics like “Green Eggs and Ham.”

“They’re very simple words but they’re so creative and fun that it made children want to read them,” Owens said. The illustrations in Seuss books also help children develop visual literacy skills.

“Literacy includes listening, speaking, reading and writing, and it’s important to develop those components as a child grows,” said Owens.

Tips for bringing joy into reading for kids

Finding pleasure in reading creates motivation, explained Owens. “If children aren’t good at reading, they for sure don’t want to do it,” said Owens. To avoid this cycle, parents can follow the PIECE method. “I tell parents that the reading experience should be pleasant, interesting, engaging and challenging enough,” said Owens. She offers these tips for keeping the PIECE when reading to children:

• Pleasant: Enjoy being with each other, meaning that reading is your time together. Keep your focus on that.
• Interesting: Read about something your child is interested in, whether that’s dogs, planets, cooking or something else.
• Engaging: Choose a book that will engage your child’s imagination — use voices, puppets or even homemade props.
• Challenging Enough: Choose a book that is right at or just above your child’s reading level. You want the child to be able to understand what you’re reading.

Owens notes that reading together is not a good time to quiz your child or to make it into a vocabulary lesson. “Reading in and of itself will help your child build skills,” advised Owens. “Children who read and are read to are constantly exposed to new words, new ideas, new possibilities. Not to mention correct spelling, grammar and the elements of a good story,” she said.

Reflecting on Dr. Seuss and his legacy, Owens calls his books “timeless.” She said, “There are many lessons to be learned and much wisdom to be gained from the books but the main reason Dr. Seuss’s books remain popular today is that they are just darn fun to read.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

What Michael Flynn’s Resignation Says About the Trump Administration

Next Post

Life Skills for the Digital Age: Choosing the Right Technology

SWHELPER

SWHELPER

SWHELPER is a news, information, resources, and entertainment website related to social good, social work, and social justice. To submit news and press releases email contact@swhelper.org

Related Posts

Treating Teen Addiction With Compassion and Empathy
Mental Health

UB Social Work Researcher Introduces a New Tool for Treating Alcohol and Drug Addiction

June 6, 2023
Do District-Based Elections For School Board Help Minority Candidates Get Elected?
News

NASW Opposes Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Exams

May 22, 2023
5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing
Health

5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing

May 21, 2023
What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It
Business

What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It

May 21, 2023
Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW
News

Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW

May 23, 2023
Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns
Human Rights

Sex Trafficking Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Red Roof Inns

May 21, 2023
Next Post
Life Skills for the Digital Age: Choosing the Right Technology

Life Skills for the Digital Age: Choosing the Right Technology

Five Reasons to Embrace Conflict

Five Reasons to Embrace Conflict

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
GET THE LATEST NEWS!
Subscribe
We hate spam and never share your details.
×

Thank you!

Exploring Emotions: The Power of the Feelings Heart Exercise in Therapy

Exploring Emotions: The Power of the Feelings Heart Exercise in Therapy

May 19, 2023
What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

May 19, 2023
The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

May 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Connect With Us

Twitter
FlipboardInstagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram TikTok
SWHELPER – Social Work Helper

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Terms of Service

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Technology
    • Disability
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Webinars
  • Career Center
  • Subscriber Benefit Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.