Books are more than pages of words set between two covers; they are a path for a child's imagination. Keep this path open to a full scope of learning, discovery, and fun or adventure by showing your child how to do a book walk. No feet required for this idea, 
just some focus and a pair of eyes.
First, what is a book walk? A bookwalk is an idea I learned about in a parenting workshop at my younger daughter's school. The reason for doing it is to help increase awareness, comprehension, and connnection. The steps are simple and your child can learn to do it in less than twenty minutes. The benefits of this idea can last for years, if he or she does it with each book.
Here is how to do a bookwalk. Feel free to mix up the order of the steps. Also, try one at a time for younger children.
One, have your child look at the front cover. Are there pictures? If yes, what is taking place in them? Ask plenty of questions.
Two, is there any color with the font, background, or anywhere on the front cover? If yes, ask your child to predict if this will be a funny or happy book. Do not open it.
Three, read the title. Based on this, ask your child if he or she can use the words of the title in a sentence. This will show comprehension, or a lack of it. This also helps your child predict the content, in a summary. Can your child make a connection to the title, even in a small way? Make sure your child uses the index finger of his or her writing hand. Have him or her place it under each word being read, not on top or to the side.
Four, who wrote it, who illustrated it? Point out whether the people are men or women. Ask your child if he or she knows about the jobs of writer, illustrator, editor, printer and seller.
Five, flip open the book. Look at each page. Do not read the story yet. Ask your child if there are any words in bold print, bubbles, and if he or she can find a possible keyword. This will be the word that sums up the content and without reading the page, you can find it by the number of times it is mentioned. For example, if the book is about boats, and the word water is mentioned five times on a short page, water is more than likely a keyword.
Six, ask your child if he or she can find a glossary in the back. If not, that is fine because not all books have one. Explain the purpose of a glossary, and be sure to look for an index too. Explain the reason why an index could be helpful.
Seven, look at the pictures in the book. Can your child make a connection to one of them, through similar experience? Ask your child to predict the end of the story.
Eight, find the names of the characters and talk about what roles they may play.
Nine, see if you can determine what the conflict is, and ask your child what possible solutions the writer may have used to tell the story. Also, where does it take place, and does your child know any information about the place? Find it on a map if you can and talk about it.
Ten, now read the book, and talk about each page as your child finishes the last sentence. This will help them grasp the content better. In addition, use a piece of wood that has a semi-rough side. Show your child how to "write" each new word on this side so he or she can learn it. The texture will help lock in the knowledge. Be sure to have your child "write" on the board three times with each new word.
The process of a bookwalk may seem long; yet, this is an excellent way to make children aware of what they read. Use the "memory board" with each new word. Then, recap what he or she just read and continue with the story. If you would like to add to the learning, ask your child to locate the beginning sound of each word they "write" on the board. The beginning sound is the first sound you hear in a word.
Ask your child if he or she can find the word family of each word they "write" on the board. The word family is a group of letters that always begins with a vowel. These two additional pieces will increase your child's awareness of words, and decoding. Defining the word will increase comprehension.
(July 25th) (
