March Literacy & Learning News
2020 Print
Parents need to help lead children into reading!
VOLUME, CHOICE and ACCESS!
Volume - I attended a conference recently where the speaker underscored for the audience how important the volume, or amount, of reading children do every day is. When children don't read outside of school for up to five weeks (think Summer Slide as well as the school year) they can lose one level's worth of reading growth. This growth can take as much as 6 months to regain. So how much should students be reading - as much as humanly possible! That does mean as much as you can fit in based on your child's schedule, etc. But I would suggest, if possible, more time than they spend on technology. "Research also suggests that children who read more are better at self-regulation and executive functioning - controlling impulses, paying attention, setting goals and figuring out how to achieve them." - Pamela Paul and Maria Russo, authors of How to Raise a Reader.
Choice - Choice is motivating. One of the reasons choice is important is because children can see themselves in the books they read as they learn how to navigate life. It is affirming to "see yourself" in a book. It is also interesting to read about other lives through stories. Books help build empathy when we learn about ourselves and others. Providing choice gives students some control over their life.
Access - Be the pipeline for your child. By the time students are becoming fluent readers, one of the best supports parents can provide for children is to be their pipeline for more books. This can mean purchasing books as gifts, and taking trips to the library, or finding garage sale gold mines. Current research suggests that having access to 500 books over the course of a child's lifetime is a more solid indicator of their future academic success and length in time staying in school than other factors.
Ideas - We know how important parents are in the lifelong job of building readers. If you are looking for some ideas for your child when it comes to what to read Mrs. Butters, our library aide, and I will be making some recommendations each month in a section of this newsletter called Suggestions from the MPQ Library. Check them out!
Spring Book Fair March 5th - 12th!
Student-led Conferences in Murray Park
Suggestions from the MPQ Library
Great series books for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders
Series books are a great way to lead students into reading because once they are done with one - there is another waiting - like a good friend! If you aren't sure what to recommend to your child try one of these:
Third graders - Clementine series. Clementine is a spunky character that can sometimes get into trouble.
Fourth graders - Dog Diaries series. If your child is an animal lover this might be the series for him or her.
Fifth graders - Penderwicks series. The books are funny with a slightly old-fashioned quality to them. A good break from the fantasy that makes up a lot of the books for fifth graders.
Jill Puhlmann-Becker, Reading Specialist RASD
Email: puhlmannj@ripon.k12.wi.us
Phone: 920-748-4695
Facebook: facebook.com/MPQuestelementary