Encourage your child to read!

Often kids associate reading as a part of school’s assignment and think of it as a task rather than an enjoyable activity they can do just for pleasure. As a parent you can help your child to see and appreciate reading from a different perspective. First of all, don’t use it as a punishment. Sometimes, parents assign reading as a consequence for something the child had not done or hasn’t done it right. That doesn’t contribute to see reading as a pleasant activity; instead, it sends children the wrong message that if they don’t behave they will be ask to read.  Second, find what interest your child. All children have different interests. Some are interested in sports, while others in animals, astronomy, insects, etc. The good news is that there are books for every topic: fiction and nonfiction books in every area that your child might be curious about. Third, use your child’s natural curiosity to foster his interest in reading. Instead of just providing an answer to a question, show him how to use books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and internet resources to find answers to his own questions.

Rather than spending lots of money in buying different kinds of books, take your child to the library and get him a library card. Make a habit to go to the library, every other week (if possible) and check out different kind of books for him to read on his own and/or with your help. Some libraries even offer the same version of the books in more than one language. I often encourage my Latino parents to check the books in both English and Spanish and take turn with their children reading both versions.

Remember that the objective of reading is to comprehend what is in the text. To promote reading comprehension ask and show your child how to use his imagination to visualize (make a picture in his mind) about what he is reading. As he reads, ask him to predict (tell what will happen next) later in the story. Then check if his predictions were right. Many stories offer parents the opportunity to tap into real life situations, thus ask your child about his own opinions: what could this character have done different, what would you do?

Set a time, as often as you can, to read to your child, to read with your child, and to listen to your child read to you. It’s also important that your child “sees” you reading: letters, newspaper, magazines, books, internet articles, etc. Use these opportunities to talk to your child why it’s important to read: be informed, learn about something, pleasure, and so forth.

Happy Reading!

Be Involved!

A vast number of researches have established the unequivocal relationship between parental involvement and student achievement. The earlier parents become involved in their children’s education, the more powerful the effects.  These studies have demonstrated that students whose parents are involved in their education tend to have higher grades, scores, and graduation rates. Parental involvement also acts as a motivation for students’ attendance, increased academic enthusiasm, and better self esteem. In the long run, children whose parents are involved in their education tend to have lower rates of behavior problems, decreased use of drugs and alcohol, and a better attitude for facing life-difficulties. Parental involvement has also shown to be a good indicator for students’ academic success even within families with low socio-economic status. While there are many ways by which parents can become involved in their children’s education, the most effective forms of parental involvement are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home.

• How to do it?

Sometimes parents do not know exactly how to help their children with their education, in that case the best advice is to approach your children’s teacher and ask him/her for guidance.  With the teacher’s support parents can become increasingly involved in home learning activities and find themselves with opportunities to teach, to be models for and to guide their children. For example, the teacher may require from parents to practice reading at home. There are many studies proving that when children read with their parents at home, they make significant gains in reading achievement compared to those who only practice at school.

Some basic tips for parental involvement include:

1.       Establish a daily family routine. Start by providing a specific time and a quiet place to do homework and study. It’s important that you make an effort to have the basic supplies for your child to complete his/her homework: paper, scissors, colors, pencils, erasers, a dictionary, etc. If you don’t have a specific place, prepare a container (shoe box, paper bag, etc.) that your child uses only during homework time.

2.       Monitor out-of-school activities.  Limit the time your child spends watching TV or plays outside during school days; these need to include other extra-curricular activities including family visits, shopping etc.

3.        Model the value of learning, self-discipline, and hard work.  It’s important  that you  communicate regularly with your children, through questioning and conversation, showing them that achievement comes from setting goals and working hard toward meeting them.

4.       Set high but realistic expectations for achievement.  Ask your child’s teacher about the goals and standards appropriate for his age, grade level, and maturity. It's equally important to take into consideration your child's special talents, and to offer support to overcome specific limitations.

5.       Encourage children's development/ progress in school.   Children need to see/hear their parents maintaining a positive and supportive home-school relationship. Thus stay in touch with teachers and school staff and show your child your appreciation for their decisions and recommendations.

6.       Last, but not least, encourage literacy. Your children need to see you reading on regular basis (the newspaper, a letter, emails, etc.), writing (letters, emails, shopping lists), and talking (of activities that include literacy) among family members. 

Additional resources for parental involvement:

- Education Week

- Parent Involvement Matters

- National Education Association