Dear Parents,
Each year concerned parents ask me what they can do to encourage their children to learn to love books and, therefore, to love reading. I would like to share with you some of the guidelines set up by teacher-parent groups that have proved effective in promoting good attitudes toward reading and have resulted in increased reading skills.
1. Be a good model for your child. Visit the library, and choose a book for yourself as well as for your child. Set aside time each day for your child. Set aside time each day for quiet reading. Seeing you read each day will do more to encourage your child to read than repeated lectures. Try to discuss with your child some interesting aspects and favorite characters from your books.
2. Limit your child's television time! Do not be hesitant to enforce your role as parent in preventing your child from doing something that is not in his or her own interest.
3. Include some "reading-out-loud" time in your schedule. Encourage your child to read to you. Confidence can be strengthened by interest and praise! And no matter how old the child, you should still read aloud to him or her. Many of the children's classics can be equally enjoyable to child and parent.
4. An excellent way to encourage reluctant readers is to have them make their own books, complete with illustrations and a colorful cover. Typed pages give the book a more realistic appearance.
5. For birthday and holiday gifts, consider giving popular books, bookmarks, or donating a book to the classroom or school library in your child's name.
6. Consult the librarian at your public or school library about up-to-date book lists for various age groups. He or she will also be able to help you choose books on specific themes or interest levels.
7. Be aware of what your child is doing at school. In this way, the home environment can reinforce the skills learned in the classroom.
By maintaining good home-school communication, you and I can work together to encourage your child to find his or her highest reading level.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dobson
