Great Website for Summer Learning

A free website that has ideas for summer learning is www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/. In it you will discover great ideas for students in grades 3-5. There are literacy ideas, book lists, podcasts and videos, tool tip sheets and a downloadable "What I've Read" sheet to record summer reading. Check out this website for some valuable help.

Summer Reading

It isn't too early to begin thinking about how to schedule reading into your summer. If your child is already an avid reader, you probably don't need to think about it. If, however, your child needs to be encouraged to spend some time reading almost every day, here are some suggestions:

1. Join a library reading club or make up your own reading club where the child earns points to do something special during the summer.

2. Hire a junior high or high school student to come and read with your child several times a week.

3. Decide on several books to read together as a family and then as culminating activities, watch the movies of the books. This will give you opportunities for great discussions comparing and contrasting the books with the movies.

4. If your child is a video game player, have them earn video playing time by reading.

5. Set a certain time of the day for your family reading time. For example, you might decide that right after dinner everyone will relax together for 15-20 minutes reading independently or taking turns reading aloud.

In order for students to become better readers - they need to read. Just like playing basketball, playing the tuba or becoming a ballerina, practice is key.

Family Book Club

We had some great discussions around various topics during our Family Book Club evening on April 9th. There were many positive comments about the evening. One parent said, "Getting together with other students and parents is a great way to improve comprehension." Another said that they enjoyed exporing "history in a story." Another commented, "I enjoyed spending the time with my child doing an activity with some teaching moments."

One students said, "I enjoyed the raffle and the snacks and drinks." Another stated,
"We had funny conversations."

There were also some suggestions for future book clubs and we are looking at those carefully. One person suggested using the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tullane. We would love to use that book if it comes out in paperback.

Thank you for a great evening. We look forward to hosting another Family Book Club next school year.

"Reading is Fundamental" Website

Check out this website. It is helpful and encouraging. The following is an except from its article, "Creating a Reading Environment at Home."

Be Reading Role Models
As much as they may deny it, most children want to be like their parents. Their lifelong habits start to form at the earliest ages, often by mimicking older members of the family. If they see you reading daily—both for function and for pleasure—they will more likely become avid readers themselves. If children see parents visiting libraries and checking out books, giving and receiving books as gifts, and borrowing and loaning books to friends, they will know their parents place a high value on reading.

http://www.rif.org/parents/articles/Creating.mspx