DYKB Kids Reading Program
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Live Readings Program
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Live readings by members every Tuesday & Thursday
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Activities for children on live stream
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Curriculum
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Homework help via live stream
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Reading buddies
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Youth Book Club
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Arts & Crafts
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Join today a read live via Facebook Live
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Yearly Spelling Bee
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Awards
Prepare For Live Readings
Unleash the Power of Live Readings with the DYKB Youth Reading Program
Live readings might seem challenging, especially if your child is not accustomed to public speaking. But consider this: they are a performance, much like singing a song or acting in a play. Your child will be bringing words to life sharing stories and ideas with others.
Remember: Don’t Panic
These two simple words, famously found on the back of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, serve as a comforting reminder. They are a beacon for those navigating the vast expanse of intergalactic travel, and they also hold true for live readings.
See it as a Staircase, Not a Mountain.
Encourage your child to stay calm and view the reading as a staircase rather than a daunting mountain. With each step, they’ll ascend with ease, growing in confidence and skill.
Join the DYKB Youth Reading Program
Our goal is to invite your child to join the DYKB Youth Reading Program. It’s an exciting journey where they’ll learn to navigate the world of live readings, develop their public speaking skills, and discover the joy of sharing stories aloud. So, let’s embrace this adventure together and watch as your child blossoms into a confident performer.
Choose Your Words
Before you get started you need to pick a piece of your writing to read. Often, people choose something with impact that will resonate with the target audience. Whether you are reading a short story, a poem, a monologue, a book extract, a speech, or a factual piece, you need to make sure it will engage the people you are addressing. The only thing worse than listening to someone read a dull piece is being the person reading it, so make sure you pick something good.
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Some words and phrases can be difficult to pronounce, but practice can help with this. The main issue people face when deciding what to read is embarrassment—bad jokes, swear words, sex scenes, horrific character traits, sections that are too personal to share. If you are worried about a part for that reason, consider your audience. Will they be comfortable hearing it? Will your family be there? Decide on your piece wisely, if you feel embarrassed about it you will automatically lose confidence. Aim your piece at the rough level of the people who will be listening to it and you will find that it feels right to say the words aloud.
Check It
Bear in mind length and time. You need to read it confidently and clearly, which is usually slower than you would internally. Grab a stopwatch or timer and start it running, and then read through your selected piece out loud. When you have finished, check the time. If the piece is too long you may have to select something different. Three to eight minutes is a good guide, as any longer than that may be a struggle for some members of the audience.
Get Ready
Make sure your piece is printed in a large, clear font so that you can read is clearly from a distance. When you are on stage, in front of an audience, those words will get smaller by themselves. Your eyes will find it harder to focus as your body will be pumping with adrenaline. You need to be able to read it comfortably with your arms outstretched, as that is how it will appear later, even if you hold it closer, as most people would.
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If you are exceptionally nervous, pick out an outfit to wear for your performance. Get that sorted early so you can use it as a costume when practicing. Whenever you put those clothes on you are ready to go. Like a superhero, you change into your garments of power and read like you’ve never read before.
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By preparing you will begin to feel less worried about your reading, and a sense of self-confidence will settle within you. Yes, you’ll still be nervous, but it will feel more manageable to you. Write the performance in your calendar. Work out where it is and plan your route so you won’t be late. It sounds menial, and it is, but if you’ve not been to the venue before the worst thing that could happen would be a last-minute panic to find it. Little things like this will calm your mind, and allow you to focus on getting your deliver to the best it can be.
Reader Sign Up Form
Parents Corner
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”
Encourage Good Reading Habits In Kids
CREATE A READING AREA
Make an area for your child to read in with his or her help. Grab a bean bag chair, fun accessories, a variety of books, and your child will have his or her own cozy reading corner.
ENCOURAGE READING AT HOME
Teach your child that reading is more than just for books. Practice reading menus, movie names, road signs, game instructions, and more—show your child reading is everywhere.
SET AN EXAMPLE
Act as a role model and read in front of your child. Watching you reading magazines, newspapers, and books shows your child that reading is important. Encourage your child to join you with his or her own book while you are reading.
MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN READING AND REAL LIFE
Help your child apply what he or she is reading to everyday life. Making connections between books and your child’s own experience can help increase his or her interest in reading.
KEEP READING MATERIALS IN THE HOUSE.
Give your child easy access to books and other reading materials at home. This helps him or her understand that reading doesn’t only happen at school—it can happen anywhere
VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.
Making reading fun can be easy with a library card. Take advantage of the selection at your local public library by letting your child pick out a book that catches his or her attention.
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR CHILD IS READING
Help your child apply what he or she is reading to everyday life. Making connections between books and your child’s own experience can help increase his or her interest in reading.
EXPOSE YOUR CHILD TO DIFFERENT BOOK GENRES
Give your child easy access to books and other reading materials at home. This helps him or her understand that reading doesn’t only happen at school—it can happen anywhere
SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
If your child has difficulty reading and gets frustrated, take a step back and see where he or she is struggling. Talk with his or her teacher and address the issue as soon as possible.
READ EACH NIGHT
Make reading part of your child’s night-time routine. This habit helps your child learn to associate reading with relaxation.
Education and Reading Tips
Play with letters, words, and sounds! Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading. The tips below offersome fun ways you can help your child become a happy andconfident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best foryour child.
Talk to your child
Ask your child to talk about his day at school. Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.
Say silly tongue twisters
Sing songs, read rhyming books, and say silly tongue twisters. These help kids become sensitive to the sounds in words.
Read it and experience it
Connect what your child reads with what happens in life. If reading a book about animals, relate it to your last trip to the zoo.
Use your child's name
Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, "John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump. And they both begin with the same letter, J."
Play with puppets
Play language games with puppets. Have the puppet say, "My name is Mark. I like words that rhyme with my name. Does park rhyme with Mark? Does ball rhyme with Mark?"
Write It Down
Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage her to use the letters and sounds she's learning about in school.
Trace and Say Letters
Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.
Play sound games
Practice blending sounds into words. Ask "Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p." Hold each sound longer than normal.
Read it again and again
Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.
Talk about letters and sounds
Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game! "I'm thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm."
Meet The Team
Obie Dieke
USA
Program Administrator
Praneentha Battu
USA
Event Coordinator
Sonam Singhal
USA-India
Volunteer Coordinator
Angelina Skvortsova
USA
Social Media Assistant - Content Creator - YouTube Advisor
Sammy Lim
USA
Social Media Assistant & Graphic Designer
Alexandria Pereira
USA
Social Media Assistant & Content Creator