Dummies CAN Read

Introduction

Is there such a thing as a dummy? No! Absolutely not! Although children have different natural abilities, every one is born to learn and learn well, if allowed to proceed at their own pace. Unfortunately, many children with reading difficulties are often blamed for their poor reading skills. As a result, they struggle with reading or shun it all their lives.

But wait a minute, lets get UN-serious about this and smile. A child with reading problems is not alone. He or she can be helped.

That's what Dummies 'Can' Read is all about: children and how to help them to enjoy reading by reading to them . This blog is also about the story of a child who started out as a non-reading, a child who had to struggle to discover the wonderful world of books.

I believe that stories, songs, and poems are the Lego of Literacy. I have seen it first hand. Furthermore, I have performed at international festivals from Canada and the USA to South America, China and Australia, with a total of seven international tours and six CDs to my credit. I have also conducted many creative arts workshops.

My six audio CDs are geared to help children to read by encouraging good listening skills and practice in a fun environment. Reviews of my CD have appeared in Professionally Speaking, the Ontario College of Teachers andSchool Library Journal. My fifth CD appeared in the 2011 Best Books For Children and Teens, The Canadian Children's Book Centre.

My story, Fiezo the Book Burro, was runner-up for the 2007 Writing for Children Competition, sponsored by the Writers’ Union of Canada. Since 2009, seven of my songs and stories have received honorable mention in national and international competitions. It has always been an honour to inspire children to read.

Perhaps that’s because I failed grades two and three. As a child, I hated reading. My spelling was atrocious. My grade eight principal told me, “Don’t waste your time in the Liberal Arts. You’ll never graduate from high school, let alone university.”

Yes, I was a dummy, at least in the eyes of some. What no one at the time realized was that I have a 55-percentile short-term memory capacity. No wonder I struggled.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage teachers and parents to inspire children to read, through the reading of books, the telling of stories, the reciting of poems, and the singing of songs.

Why do children learn the rules of hockey? They learn the rules because they love the game. Inspire children to love reading and they will never stop; and teaching will become that much easier.

My purpose in writing this blog is also to tell my own story and to help those adults with reading problems to understand; they are not alone; and they too can be successful reads.

I challenge you all; give the gift of reading.

More information: visit www.maxtell.ca or listen to Max’s interview on CBC Radio http://maxtell.ca/max-tell/max-tell-2010-interview-cbc.