Academy Project

Dear Parents,

Do you remember how frustrating you felt in your first grade in school?

Your child's happiness and school success will depend on how she or he feels about himself or herself and about reading. Below are some tips to help you get your child started.

1. Boost Your child's confidence. Self-confidence begins with achievement. Give your child things to do that are within his or her abilities and praise both effort and achievement. Your child is a work in progress! They must not feel that you are unhappy with his or her efforts, or that your love and approval depend on how he or she may "perform".

Reading, especially with young children, should be an interactive process. You might read a page aloud in a picture book and then talk with your child about what is happening in the story.

2. Surround your child with children's books and supervise the use of them. Encourage your child to handle books but appreciation of them will be limited. A child needs to touch and feel, and experience the achievement of turning the pages and reading. In doing so, an association is developed which stirs the imagination and makes the books fascinating and meaningful.

The public library is a great source for books. You can check out several books each week to add to the home bookshelf. Don't be surprised if your child selects the same book over and over.

3. Have at least two reading times each day. The two best times are in the early morning on weekends or days when school is out before your child gets into an active stage and before bedtime.

4. When you read, hold your child on your lap, or close to you with your arm around him/her. Your body's warmth and touch gives your child security. This closeness may be enhanced by a blanket, or a favorite teddy bear or doll.

5. Read with expression. Voice inflections and excitement are as much a part of reading as the words themselves. Your child's fluency in expression will depend a great deal on how you express yourself. When you read, get into the story. Show excitement.

6. Let your child read to you. After you have read, encourage your child to take the book and read to you. He or she may turn the pages and say something about the pictures even though the words seem unfamiliar.

7. Let your child illustrate the story. After a morning or afternoon reading session, give your child some paper and crayons or markers. Encourage your child to tell something related to the story with the crayons or markers.

8. Reward your child with pleasant surprises. Every time your child reads a book to you, put a star on the refrigerator or drop a penny or token in a small jar. As the stars increase in number or the jar fills up, your child will sense achievement and feel good about reading.

9. Let your child see you reading. Actions speak louder than words. If your child sees you reading, he or she senses that reading is important to you and that it is something you want to do.

10.Talk about reading among family members. Share with others about books and other materials you have read in the presence of your child. This demonstrates the importance of books and reading; all of which have a motivational effect on your child.