Literacy Guest Spotight Q & A: Karyn Tripp

Our Literacy Guest Spotlight Q & A continues this month with mom, educator and blogger- Karyn Tripp.  Come along and learn all about Karyn and her ideas on literacy.

Karyn, tell us a little about yourself.

I am a mom of three young kids ages 8, 6 and 2. I grew up in south Florida but have lived in Utah since college and love it here! I met my husband in college& we have been married for 12 wonderful years now. I graduated with a degree in Home Economics Education and taught high school for several years before having my kids. I am now a stay-at home mom & homeschool my kids. I love reading & always have 2-3 books going at once. I love cooking & baking. I also love to run, hike, sing, and sew. 

 

You have a blog called Teach Beside Me.  What will readers find when they visit?

My blog is focused on homeschooling, with a lot of curriculum reviews and educational ideas. But most of my ideas can be used for all parents & educators. I love doing learning games and projects with my kids. We try to keep all of our learning hands-on, so there are lots of ideas for that.

Can you share two of your favorite posts with us?

I love this post about our Geography nesting cans because they were so much fun to make!

I also loved this post about Cross-Curricular Kitchen lessons because it brings in my love of cooking!

Do you have any literacy rituals in your family?

We read together a lot. My kids never want to go to bed without their stories. We also always have some books that we read together for school. My kids love books as much as I do & I am so glad!  We visit the library regularly, too & always max out with the most books we can check out.

What books are your kids really into right now?

My 8-year-old son LOVES the Percy Jackson books & has probably read the series 3-4 times now. He is reading the Seekers series by Erin Hunter right now as well & really loving it. He reads SO much I can hardly keep up with all that he likes to read anymore. We have basically exhausted our little small-town library choices.

My 6-year-old daughter is loving Eloise books right now. She just checked out a whole bunch of them and they are her new favorite! She is also a huge fan of Fancy Nancy.

My little 2-year-old really loves being read to as well. Anytime I sit on the floor he immediately runs to get a book. He loves the Mouse About the House &  any of the Sandra Boynton picture books right now.

You homeschool your children.  What is one piece of advice you can give parents about teaching children to read?

I think the best way is to begin teaching them a love of books & reading from a very young age. The more you read to them and make it an enjoyable experience, the more they will hunger to be able to do it on their own.

Getting To Know You A Little Bit More…

If you could have brunch with three characters from children’s literature, who would you invite?

Oh, is Anne of Green Gables considered children’s literature? I adore her.  Also Dr. Doolittle, and maybe the Cat in the Hat- Wow! What an entertaining brunch that would be!

Hardcover or e-book?

Definitely hardcover!!  I love having a real book in my hands.

What is a fond childhood memory you have?

I played outside all the time as a kid. I remember playing in a big puddle at the end of my street, riding my bike down the “big hill”, climbing trees, catching lizards, feeding turtles in the pond by our house, and going to the beach a lot.   

Where is your favorite place to read a book?

 In my big comfy over-stuffed chair.

What book is on your nightstand or e-reader?

I am reading Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (for my son’s summer book club) and for myself: In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick, and No More Perfect Moms by Jill Savage.

Karyn, thank you so much for sharing with our Growing Book by Book readers.

Don’t miss our last Literacy Guest Spotlight Q & A coming in August!

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