7 Steps to Better Money and Reading Habits for Kids (2024)

Would you like your child to develop better money and reading habits?

What every parent wants is for their children to be capable of having a bright future!

The right money and reading habits make that more likely. Without basic money and reading skills that aspiration is virtually impossible.

7 STEPS to BETTER MONEY and READING HABITS in 7 DAYS or LESS!

Here are 7 easy steps any parent can take today to help their kids develop better money and reading habits.

The resources cited herein are a great fit for beginning readers, around age 7, grade 2, and above.

1. LISTEN to the STORY SAMMY'S BIG DREAM

Have your child listen to this audio version of Sammy's Big Dream!

While listening to the story have your child predict the chapter titles.

Predicting. Read the following blog to learn more about why predicting is an important reading comprehension strategy: Can Your Child or Student Predict the Chapter Titles.

Listening. Also see this article and research on the connection between listening skills and reading comprehension. Here is a short excerpt.

In their article “On the importance of listening comprehension,” special education and speech experts Tiffany P. Hogan, Suzanne M. Adlof, and Crystle N. Alonzo assess that decoding receives more attention in the classroom, and listening comprehension has fallen by the wayside. This is problematic, they point out, because there is considerable “evidence showing that listening comprehension becomes the dominating influence on reading comprehension starting even in the elementary grades. SOURCE: SchoolsSpecialty.com

2. READ the STORY

Next have your child read the story.

Either download a free version of the storybook on Sammy Rabbit's Author and Reading Resource web page

OR download the resources for free at one of Sammy Rabbit's Dream Big Partner websites listed below in section titled: Sammy Partners Directory!

OR purchase the $6 Deluxe Story Set Version of Sammy's Big Dream!

The Deluxe Story Set. The Deluxe Story Set version of the Sammy's Big Dream is jam packed with value. It allows readers to interact with the story in 6 ways. Readers can: (1) read the story; (2) color it; (3) listen to it; (4) take a story quiz; (5) write and revise it; (6) illustrate it.

3. TAKE the STORY QUIZ

Have your child take the story quiz.

The story quiz contains 31 activities to help insure readers review and learn all the important money language and personal finance concepts mentioned in the story. Some of the language and concepts include: earning, making saving a habit, spending smart, giving, goal setting, planning, staying focused, and being determined.

Related Read. An important component of Sammy Rabbit's approach to financial education and the development of life skills is he strongly stresses "habit" formation. Be sure to read this article by CFP® and mom, Abby Kovach, titled: The Power of Starting the Right Money Habits Early

“We are what we repeatedly do.Excellence, then, is not an act, but ahabit.” —Aristotle

4. COLOR the STORY

Have your child color the story.

Coloring is fun and in the case of Sammy Rabbit resources - it is purposeful! It serves as another strategy to deepen learning. At the bottom of each page of the story, readers will find a short Sammy Saying. The Saying can be colored and it summarizes an important message on the page.

5. WRITE and REVISE the STORY

Have your child write their own version of Sammy's Big Dream!

Writing and Revising. See this article that shares the connection between writing and reading comprehension. Here is a short excerpt.

Writing directly benefits students' reading skills. For example, if you have students write about what they've read or learned (for nearly any content or age), you'll dramatically improve reading comprehension...SOURCE: BlogsEdWeek.org

6. ILLUSTRATE the STORY

Have your child illustrate the story.

Illustrating is another excellent way to deepen learning and test a child's comprehension. It also stretches one's creativity and imagination.

7. LISTEN to the AUTHOR READ the STORY

Have your child listen to the author read the story. Go to Sammy's Big Dream Author Reading and Resource page.

There you will also find more lessons and learning ideas to keep your child growing in knowledge!

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS - CONTACT SAMMY

Contact Sammy with your questions and suggestions.

CLICKto use our website contact form oremailus at:contact@SammyRabbit.com

SAMMY RABBIT DREAM BIG FINANCIAL EDUCATION PARTNER DIRECTORY

Here is a partial list of Sammy Rabbit Dream Big Partners around the United States.

Money Smart 101 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Centric Advisor | Des Moines, Iowa

Empower Yourself LTD | Boston, Massachusetts

Fairmount Civic Association | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

FeeOnlyNetwork | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fort Rucker | Dale County, Alabama

Garrett Planning Network | Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Kelly Planning Group | Cincinnati, Ohio

Rooted Planning Group | Corning, New York

Tan Wealth Management | Oakland, California

Tony Steuer, CLU | Alameda, California

Warrick Dunn Charities | Atlanta, Georgia

Become a Sammy Rabbit Dream Big Partner