Welcome to Family Literacy Night Developing Reading Skills With Your Kindergarten-Grade 2 Children November 30, 2011

What do we know about Reading for Fun? What parents and children say…

Parents See reading as the most important skill See the benefits of summer reading View their child as less engaged in reading than they were as a child See reading as the key to success in college and work Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

Children Generally see reading as fun and enjoyable…but only 3 out of every 10 readers reads every day Are less likely to view reading as “very important” as they become older See the benefits of summer reading Have different views based on gender: Boys read for fun less frequently and see reading as less important Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

“Every Day” Readers are More Likely to… Say parents are the top source of suggestions for reading Think reading is connected to future success Come from homes where parents are frequent readers Use computers in their reading as well as audio books See summer reading as more beneficial than students who read less frequently Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

Why Don’t Children Read More? What do you think? Rate these responses: ___ Too tired to spend time reading ___ Don’t have time to read ___ Trouble finding books he/she likes ___ Would rather do other things ___ Need to work on schoolwork/homework What do other parents say? What do children say? How do each group’s reasons compare? Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

Parents Say… 5. Too tired to spend time reading 4. Don’t have time to read 3. Trouble finding books he/she likes 2. Would rather do other things 1. Need to work on schoolwork/homework Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

Children Say… 5. Too tired to spend time reading 4. Don’t have time to read 3. Too much schoolwork/homework 2. Would rather do other things Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

And Children Say The #1 reason I don’t read more… “Trouble finding books I like!” Source: Yankelovich 2006 Kids and Family Reading Report™

You Can Make a Difference Help children choose “just right” books Provide many kinds of reading materials Provide access to reading through technology Discuss/model the importance of reading at home

Help Your Child Choose Books Know his/her interests, skills and strengths Help him/her preview the book Learn when the 5 Finger Rule can help Learn about characteristics of different books Discuss recommendations from your child’s peers and teachers with him Use websites as a resource for finding appropriate

Help Your Child Choose Books Books, magazines, newspapers, shopping lists, recipes, Internet, audio/books Fiction and nonfiction Read more sophisticated materials to your child as well as easy, familiar text Provide material by interest in a topic, author or genre Tell your own stories: then write them, read them

Keeping Boys in the Game Play crossword puzzles and other word games Download an entertaining audio book on his iPod Clip interesting news stories and discuss together Give him a gift certificate to spend at a local book store Build on topics of interest; create book sets using books that matter to him Support his reading choices Let him see you as a reader and writer

Conversations and Modeling Share stories of your own Connect reading to life…show why it is important Create a library at home (some sources: tag sale, swap with friends, eBay, closeouts) Visit the Public Library for throughout the year, including summer Discuss books together… what do you wonder… notice… what does it remind you of… what would happen if… clarify vocabulary

Be a reading/writing model for your child to follow Show your child how you read every day for fun and work Talk about how you use reading every day Let your child see you read and write, no matter what it is you may be reading or writing

Talk, Talk, Talk Talk with your child about their experiences Talk with your child when you play and do things together Share stories with your child about family experiences Listen to your child and encourage them to ask questions

Playing with words Rhyming Breaking words into parts Beginning/ending sounds Word ladders Dictation practice

Use Technology When appropriate, here are great choices… E-books delivered through PDA's and computers Audio books Podcasts

Other Resources on the Web Members of the Screen Actors’ Guild read stories online Books to read online, games, activities Scholastic Book Wizard

How to find time when you don’t have any to spare! Cooking - your child can help read the recipe, read names of ingredients, read abbreviations Running errands - exposes children to environmental print Grocery shopping - your child can help you write and/or read the list

Mid Hudson Library Services/Grinnell Website You can look up books and have them sent to any library Tumblebooks – reads children’s literature online

Enjoy Reading as a Family Way of Life “Read Together Every Day!!”