How reading to your child helps improve learning and behavior .

OverviewWelcomeIntroduction to Parent Education MeetingsPower point presentationQuestion/AnswerRead Aloud – Grace NiederlehnerDoor PrizesThank you and Good Night!

Parent Education MeetingsGrant from the Aldridge FoundationProvide training opportunities for parentsA chance for parents to meet and mingle

Literacy and LearningWhat does the research say?“The single most important activity for building

these understandings and skills essential to reading success appears to be reading aloud to children.”

(Wells 1985;Bus, Van Ijzendoorn &Pellegrini 1995)“A central goal during these preschool years is to

enhance children’s exposure to and concepts about print”

(Clay 1979, 1991:Holdaway 1979;Teale 1984;Stanovich &West 1989)

Literacy and LearningWhat does the research say?, continuedThe best tool for increasing a child’s

attention span is one on one time with the child.

One on one time is essential to teaching the concept of books, puppies or flowers etc (Trelease, 2001)

Literacy and LearningWhat can you do:Read out loud to your child.Start reading when your child is a baby and

continue throughout their life time.Read the same book over and over.Ask friends and family to read to your child.Visit the library.

Literacy and Learning What can I do continued:Tell stories to your childLet them see you reading.

Literacy and LearningWhy is this important?Reading aloud:Builds children’s vocabulary with words they

can use and understand.Helps children to learn about print concepts.Gain background knowledge about a variety

of topics.Helps build listening skills and attention

spans.

Literacy and LearningProblems and Solutions:I am short on time- Try to find just 5

minutes to sit down and read with your child. Make it a part of his/her bedtime routine or while they are in the bathtub .

My child won’t sit still- Choose short books and build up the amount of time, pick a time when they are tired, have them sit in your lap.

My child tears the books- Use board books.Any others?

Literacy and LearningReferences:Reading is Fundamental- www. rif.orgTrelease, J. (2001) The Read Aloud

Handbook.Learning to Read and Write:

Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children-A joint position statement of the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Literacy and LearningThe more you read , the more you know and the more you know, the smarter you grow.

Save the Date!December Parent Education MeetingWhen: Wednesday , December 10th 8:45-

10:00Topic: Managing your Preschooler’s

BehaviorPresented by Sarah Callahan , ESE Behavior

Specialist and Program Facilitator, Santa Rosa County Schools .