Marching Into Literacy
March 2023
Read Across America - Celebrating Diversity
Family Literacy Night
make it a goal to read with your child every day!
in focus: vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to the words children must know to communicate effectively. In school terms, it can be described as oral vocabulary or reading vocabulary.
Most words in a child's vocabulary come from everyday encounters with language. Children pick up language from books, media, and conversations with the people in their lives.
You can increase your child's vocabulary and background knowledge — two important pieces of the reading puzzle — by having conversations with them. Giving children a rich language environment is one of the best ways to build a foundation for reading success. You can improve your child's vocabulary several ways:
- Talk about the things you see in your neighborhood, on trips around town, or on television. These conversations help build a child's understanding of her world.
- When reading, pause to ask questions or comment on the story. Ask, "Why do you think he did that?" or "What do you think is going to happen next?"
- Use interesting and new words with your child. For example, "This cookie is scrumptious! It is really good!" or "I can see you're reluctant to leave, but we can come back tomorrow."
- Tell your children stories from your own life, or about the day they were born. This helps develop their personal and cultural identity.
how do you motivate children to read?
More often than not it’s because they’ve only experienced the school library, or their teacher isn’t supporting them in the way that they need.
Here are a few tips on how to motivate your child to read:
· Have a good selection of materials that are level and age-appropriate
· Make sure the books are fun and full of pictures
· Exciting or funny books can help to show that reading is an enjoyable activity
· Match reading materials to what they like
· Don’t only focus on them reading themselves. Have a time where they listen to stories read aloud and follow the words – allowing them to relax more and enjoy the story
· Never make them feel bad or silly when they make mistakes
· If they have siblings, consider setting times that they read together
· Create a fun and comfortable ‘reading zone’ in the house. Think pillow forts, or teepee style areas that would be liked by a kid
By making the entire atmosphere for reading safe, supportive, comfortable and fun, you help to reinforce that reading is something to enjoy.
As a parent, when you have time, you can even read with them or to them. This can create some wonderful family memories as you share virtual adventures in your reading cove.
Spring Break and Weekend Literacy
Spring Break is just around the corner! It is the perfect time to encourage "reading/writing for fun!" Here are a few ideas~
Article on Spring Break Reading Success
Reading material in a different genre
Great Literacy Ideas for Fun at Home--Seed planting, etc.
Partnering with Parents for Literacy
Celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month
NATIONAL CRAYON DAY
- March 31st is National Crayon Day!
- National Crayon Day is a day to celebrate the invention of crayons and the joy of coloring. Coloring develops your child’s fine motor skills and allows your child to explore their creativity.
- Here are a few activities you can do with your child at home.
- Recycle Old and broken crayons can still be recycled into multicolored homemade crayons. To do this, remove the paper from the crayon. Take a cupcake pan, cupcake liners, and place the broken crayons in the liners. You can melt these in the oven at 250 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. Remove the pan and let the pan cool completely. Once the melted crayons have cooled, you can remove the liner and new multicolored crayons are ready for your child to use.
- Color Simply, get some crayons and paper and let your child create a masterpiece!
- Make coloring more fun by joining your child while they color.
- Read You can read The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon with your child. Find the book being read aloud below.
- Learn Do you know how crayons were invented?
- Share this book, The Crayon Man, or watch this video with your child to learn all about crayons.