By Kristen Keene

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An associate professor in Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Education, Katie Schrodt is a vocal advocate for family literacy — recently receiving a grant to engage community schools in literacy events and working to underscore how high-quality, culturally sustaining books can make a big difference in the development of children.

As a former classroom teacher and now as a literacy educator, the MTSU faculty member shared her professional advice with viewers during an appearance on the “MTSU on 2” segment from the studios of WKRN-TV News 2, the ABC affiliate in Nashville on Friday, Oct. 25.

You can watch the segment, part of the station’s Local on 2 programming, with program co-hosts Laura Schweizer and MTSU alum Stephanie Langston, below.

“Your viewers know how important it is to read to their young children and encourage older children to read. I want to remind parents why reading is so important,” said Schrodt. “Our listening comprehension is much higher than our reading comprehension. So, when we read to kids, we are exposing them to many new, rich vocabulary words they would not otherwise encounter in books they can read on their own. 

“They can also practice comprehension skills like inferring, using context clues, tracking a character’s feelings, and learn empathy. Also, it is just an important time to bond. It is a time to slow down, cuddle and focus on one thing together. Reading is also shown to decrease anxiety!”

Schrodt recommended books parents can read with their elementary-aged kids and suggested books for middle schoolers to read this fall season.  

Suggested fall books:

Elementary:

• “The Scarecrow” by Beth Ferry.
• “Stumpkin” by Lucy Ruth Cummins.
• “Gustavo the Shy Ghost” by Flavia Z. Drago.

Middle School:

• “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” by Kelly Barnhill.
• “Wolf Hollow” by Lauren Wolk .

Spook factor:

• “Welcome to Scare School” by Jarrett Lerner (not scary).
• “Creepy Pair of Underwear” by Aaron Reynolds (not scary).
• “The Night Librarian” by Christopher Lincoln (tiny bit spooky).
• “Read At Your Own Risk” by Remy Lai (definitely creepy).

Schrodt also spoke about what parents can do if they have a child who is not really interested in reading. 

“Read together! Make it a part of your routine to read a book together or to have a time where everyone is reading their own books — and don’t sleep on magazines and graphic novels! My own kids love The Week magazine and the Highlights magazine. I put them in my car, and they always reach for them anytime we are driving. 

“Graphic novels may seem like they are too easy, but they are like a motivational fire starter! Kids love books like ‘Big Nate,’ ‘Dog Man,’ and the Baby-Sitters Club Graphix. Make trips to the library! Make the library a part of your family routines. Apps like Libby also make checking out books at home easy. Audiobooks are another fun way to read!” 

Schrodt also spoke about the recent MTSU Family Literacy Nights and the upcoming literacy nights planned at area schools. 

MTSU partners with nonprofit Read To Succeed every year to host about 10 family literacy nights across Rutherford County. Each literacy night provides dinner to the families as well as a new book to keep. 

“MTSU College of Education students plan fun and engaging activities around the books that allow families to learn new literacy strategies for home as well as fall more in love with reading together,” said Schrodt, noting that a recent event included having large sheets of chart paper and discussion cards so families could draw and talk together while eating. 

“We want to encourage these small moments of interaction. Then the families went to the classrooms where MTSU students led them in an interactive read aloud, discussing the book through an activity with comprehension questions. Then, students did a directed drawing of the characters in the books and worked on describing the characters and the theme. The families worked on big poster boards so they could all participate together!”

To learn more about the programs offered in the MTSU College of Education including how you can become a Difference Maker in your community as a teacher, counselor, librarian, or school leader, please visit education.mtsu.edu. 

— Kristen Keene (Kristen.Keene@mtsu.edu)