About the BellaOnline Reading Editor
Connie Mistler Davidson

Greetings from the Land of OZ! I am Connie Mistler Davidson, and I´m blessed to be BellaOnline´s Reading Editor. I have been writing for BellaOnline since 2010. It has also been my pleasure to write for the Attention Deficit Disorder Site and the Sandwiches Site. Reading didn´t come easily for me. I didn´t learn to read as a first or second grader. It was through a wonderful teacher´s efforts in the third grade when I learned the joys of reading. Then, I never looked back. I have been an avid reader since that time. As an adult, I read at a lot. By a lot, I mean more than 100 books a year.
I am a retired teacher. My original degree was in Elementary Education with certification to teach Kindergarten through the ninth grades. Later, I added my Master´s Degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas. I was certified in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from Kindergarten through the twelfth grades. My Master´s Degree included special classes and several practicums in reading instruction. I also had middle school and high school biology certification, middle school math certification, and middle school social studies certification. I taught many different classes at various levels, and what I discovered was that effective reading is the foundation for easier access to the curriculum. Students who read well are more likely to be effective students, in my experience. Reading well is so important! Some of my struggling students progressed from a third grade reading level to a fifth grade reading level in one semester. When a high school student goes from a third grade reading level to a fifth grade level, it makes a world of difference in their ability to complete work.
My main goal with the BellaOnline Reading Site is to promote reading for pleasure and to show how reading improves lives by opening opportunities. These opportunities can be educational or work related. Opportunities can also be found in the readers´ day-to-day lives. From reading instructions on how to assemble a product, to research into a topic of interest, reading is the key to a better life. Read for information, or read for pleasure, but read, read, read!
Monday is my day to post new articles, but I have been known to post them on other days, if my life gets to be hectic. Your feedback is important! Let me know which of the articles that you find most useful. Please feel free to ask questions in the forum. If you want to know something about a particular reading topic, just post your question. You may also e-mail me a question that you might not feel comfortable posting on the forum. Please feel free to be an active part of this website! Don’t be shy about signing up for our weekly newsletter. It gives you more information about upcoming articles. The newsletter also provides you with clickable links to the latest articles.
I will always ask the question:
What have you read today?
Connie
FAQs About Reading
Q-How old should children be when people start reading to them?
A-As soon as you can hold a baby, you can read to a baby. Read simple books. Read with expression and passion. Hold the child in a loving embrace. When kids feel close to the reader, it helps reinforce the feeling that reading is a wonderful time.
Babies Love Reading
Q-Who should read to children?
A-Parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, and other important people in a child´s life should read to that child.
Q-What are some ways to help kids read?
A-Here are some ways to help kids read:
*Read to them on a daily basis.
*Have books available at home.
*Take the children to the library.
*Have adults and older siblings in the household read for pleasure. Kids do what they see older people do.
*Have designated television and electronic time. At other times, the devices stay off.
Natural Places to Practice Reading
Q-How can I help a reluctant reader?
A-Here are some ways to bring more reading into a child´s life:
*Provide books at their level which are interesting for the child. For older readers, choose HI-LO books. These have easier vocabulary, but are at a high interest level for older children.
*Limit time spent on video games and other electronic pursuits.
*Provide natural times to read. Go places like museums or zoos where there are opportunities to read. Cook together and let the child read the recipe.
Submit a Comment - Suggestion - Request to this Editor
NOTE: If you want a response, please make sure to include your email address so we can write back. Also, make sure that any anti-spam blockers you have are set up to allow mail from bellaonline.com! Otherwise our response won't be able to get to you.
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
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Content copyright © 2018 by . All rights reserved.
This content was written by . If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Connie Mistler Davidson for details.
I am a retired teacher. My original degree was in Elementary Education with certification to teach Kindergarten through the ninth grades. Later, I added my Master´s Degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas. I was certified in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from Kindergarten through the twelfth grades. My Master´s Degree included special classes and several practicums in reading instruction. I also had middle school and high school biology certification, middle school math certification, and middle school social studies certification. I taught many different classes at various levels, and what I discovered was that effective reading is the foundation for easier access to the curriculum. Students who read well are more likely to be effective students, in my experience. Reading well is so important! Some of my struggling students progressed from a third grade reading level to a fifth grade reading level in one semester. When a high school student goes from a third grade reading level to a fifth grade level, it makes a world of difference in their ability to complete work.
My main goal with the BellaOnline Reading Site is to promote reading for pleasure and to show how reading improves lives by opening opportunities. These opportunities can be educational or work related. Opportunities can also be found in the readers´ day-to-day lives. From reading instructions on how to assemble a product, to research into a topic of interest, reading is the key to a better life. Read for information, or read for pleasure, but read, read, read!
Monday is my day to post new articles, but I have been known to post them on other days, if my life gets to be hectic. Your feedback is important! Let me know which of the articles that you find most useful. Please feel free to ask questions in the forum. If you want to know something about a particular reading topic, just post your question. You may also e-mail me a question that you might not feel comfortable posting on the forum. Please feel free to be an active part of this website! Don’t be shy about signing up for our weekly newsletter. It gives you more information about upcoming articles. The newsletter also provides you with clickable links to the latest articles.
I will always ask the question:
What have you read today?
Connie
FAQs About Reading
Q-How old should children be when people start reading to them?
A-As soon as you can hold a baby, you can read to a baby. Read simple books. Read with expression and passion. Hold the child in a loving embrace. When kids feel close to the reader, it helps reinforce the feeling that reading is a wonderful time.
Babies Love Reading
Q-Who should read to children?
A-Parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, and other important people in a child´s life should read to that child.
Q-What are some ways to help kids read?
A-Here are some ways to help kids read:
*Read to them on a daily basis.
*Have books available at home.
*Take the children to the library.
*Have adults and older siblings in the household read for pleasure. Kids do what they see older people do.
*Have designated television and electronic time. At other times, the devices stay off.
Natural Places to Practice Reading
Q-How can I help a reluctant reader?
A-Here are some ways to bring more reading into a child´s life:
*Provide books at their level which are interesting for the child. For older readers, choose HI-LO books. These have easier vocabulary, but are at a high interest level for older children.
*Limit time spent on video games and other electronic pursuits.
*Provide natural times to read. Go places like museums or zoos where there are opportunities to read. Cook together and let the child read the recipe.
Submit a Comment - Suggestion - Request to this Editor
NOTE: If you want a response, please make sure to include your email address so we can write back. Also, make sure that any anti-spam blockers you have are set up to allow mail from bellaonline.com! Otherwise our response won't be able to get to you.
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
Previous Features
Site Map
Content copyright © 2018 by . All rights reserved.
This content was written by . If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Connie Mistler Davidson for details.