The Parents' Zone
people in a child's life. By
reading to and with their
children, they can help make
their children readers for life.
Children who see their parents
read, will be more likely to
become readers themselves.
This page is for Book Nuts'
parents. On it you will find links
to interesting articles about
reading, sites that encourage
reading, and other information
on children's books and reading.
important resource! Please
take 20 minutes and read
with a child today!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Why?
Student A reads 20 minutes a night x 5 times each week.
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night or not at all!
Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 times a week = 100 min/week.
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 min/week.
Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.
Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year.
Student A reads 36000 minutes in a school year.
Student B reads 720 minutes in a school year.
Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading
practice.
By the end of 6th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these
same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60
whole school days. Student B will have read the equivalent of only
12 school days.
One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened
considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance. How do
you thing Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?
Some questions to ponder:
Which student would you expect to read better?
Which student would you expect to know more?
Which student would you expect to write better?
Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
Which student would you expect to be more successful in school . . .
and life?
The source for these this article is the U.S. Department of Education
America Reads Challenge publication "Start Early, Finish Strong,
How to Help Every Child Become a Reader." For further information
see the America Reads Website.
The Book Nuts
Love to Listen to Books, too!
When you add 20 more minutes a day of read aloud time, the figures
above are doubled. In addition, reading aloud to children exposes
them to books that they can't read for themselves. A child's listening
comprehension is almost always higher than his reading ability, so
reading aloud exposes the child to higher vocabulary and more
difficult sentence and story structure than the student can read for
themselves. The Commission on Reading found that, "The single
most important activity for building the knowledge required for
eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children."
Yes, it is a challenge to find the time in the day to read aloud to our
children with our busy lifestyles, but we must. We cannot afford not
to find that time. Our children's future depends upon it. Many
families depend upon Books on Tape to help develop listening
comprehension. Allow your child to listen to a tape before he/she
falls off to sleep.
For more information check out Jim Trelease's website and his book
The Read-Aloud Handbook. The 5th edition was released in
August of 2001. He has some great and up-to-date information on
the importance of self-selected independent reading by children and
reading aloud to children. In addition, the book provides a wonderful
treasury of suggested titles to read aloud to children from infancy to
high school.
Author and curriculum specialist Ellen Jackson has graciously
allowed the Book Nuts to publish some of her articles. Read her
sound reasons for reading aloud with your children in Cuddling Up
with Your Child and a Good Book.
Recommended
Sites for Parents
Book Adventure
Jim Trelease
Read Aloud Expert
Mem Fox
picture book author and
Literacy Expert
Guys Read
A website devoted to
getting boys to read.
Articles for Parents
Choosing Books For and With
Young Readers
Cuddling Up WIth Your Child and
a Good Book: 10 Great Reasons
to Read Together
10 Picture Books That Help
Children Deal WIth Life's
Challenges
10 Great Picture Books That
Appeal To Boys