| Parents are more concerned about their child's | | | | reading. |
| progress in reading than in any other subject taught in | | | | Run your index finger under the line of print. This |
| school, and rightfully so. In order for students to | | | | procedure is simple and helps children begin to notice |
| achieve in math, science, English, history, geography, | | | | words and that words have meaning. They also gain |
| and other subjects, reading skills must be developed to | | | | an awareness of the conventions of reading (e.g., one |
| the point that most of them are automatic. Students | | | | reads from left to right and from the top of the page |
| cannot struggle with word recognition when they | | | | to the bottom; sentences are made up of words; and |
| should be reading quickly for comprehension of a text. | | | | some sentences extend beyond a single line of print). |
| Because reading is so important to success in school, | | | | One of the greatest advantages of reading to |
| parents can and should play a role in helping their | | | | preschoolers (or children of any age) is the opportunity |
| children to become interested in reading and in | | | | for vocabulary development. Children learn the |
| encouraging their growth in reading skills. At the same | | | | meaning of words through good literature; words take |
| time, parents and teachers need to work together. | | | | on rich meaning when used in an interesting story. |
| Many teachers are now sending home practical ideas | | | | What Can I Do For My School-Age Child Who Doesn't |
| for parents to use with their preschoolers. As a result, | | | | Like To Read? |
| young children are developing some of the skills at | | | | In the early elementary years, from first through third |
| home that will later help them in school. | | | | grades, children continue learning HOW to read. It is a |
| What Can Parents Do To Help Their Preschoolers In | | | | complex process, difficult for some and easy for |
| The Learning-To-Read Process? | | | | others. Care must be taken during these early years |
| Research shows that children learn about reading | | | | not to overemphasize the learning-to-read process. |
| before they enter school. In fact, they learn in the best | | | | Reading for pleasure and information develops reading |
| manner--through observation. Young children, for | | | | interests and offers children the opportunity to practice |
| example, see people around them reading | | | | their reading skills in meaningful ways. Parents of |
| newspapers, books, maps, and signs. Parents can do a | | | | elementary-age children should provide reading |
| lot to foster an understanding of print by talking with | | | | materials in the home that arouse curiosity or extend |
| their preschoolers about signs in their environment and | | | | their child's natural interest in the world around them. |
| by letting their children know they enjoy reading | | | | By encouraging and modeling leisure-time reading in the |
| themselves. | | | | home, parents take the most important step in |
| As I Read To My Preschooler, What Should I Do | | | | fostering their child's reading development. |
| Specifically? | | | | How Can Reading Research Information Be Useful To |
| Many parents recognize the value and enjoyment of | | | | Me, As A Parent? |
| reading to their young children, but perhaps they are | | | | Current research in reading reveals three important |
| not clear about the specific skills that could be | | | | considerations for parents AND teachers: |
| enhanced through the process. Most important, reading | | | | Children who read, and read widely, become better |
| should be an enjoyable experience. Research reveals | | | | readers. |
| that when young children experience warm and close | | | | Reading and writing are complementary skills. |
| contacts with their parents when they are being read | | | | Parents are important to children both as role models |
| to, they develop more positive attitudes toward | | | | and as supporters of their efforts. |