Reading, Writing and...Bonding?

Are you ready to celebrate Read Across America Day this Wednesday, March 2nd? The National Education Association created this day to encourage parents and teachers to cultivate a love of reading in children. According to their website, the day calls for "every child to read in the company of a caring adult."

Supporting our children as they develop crucial literacy skills is not a task for teachers alone. Read Across America Day reminds us that when parents reinforce classroom lessons in reading and writing, children are more likely to develop strong literacy skills; ensuring a brighter future for our country's youth.  

The press page for PBS's popular television show, The Electric Company, highlights a U.S. Department of Education statement that makes a case for an early focus on literacy: “In grades one, two and three, children are expected to learn to read. After that, they read to learn unfamiliar and more difficult content. This is one reason why we often hear teachers talk about “the fourth grade wall” – an obstacle too formidable for many kids to scale.”

"An obstacle too formidable for many kids to scale.”

The trials and tribulations of the “fourth grade wall” may be avoided if parents place an early emphasis on reading and writing at home. Despite the fact that the hectic pace of everyday life makes it hard to spend extra time helping our children become strong readers and writers, there are ways we can ensure that our children meet the literacy expectations of their fourth grade curriculum.

The answer lies in simple ideas like the ones below. There is no need to create elaborate lesson plans or spend hours drilling our children. Opportunities exist throughout our busy days: during breakfast, while driving in the car, after dinner, or at bedtime. These simple activities may be enough to teach children that it’s possible to have fun with words, while connecting as a family.   

 At breakfast:

• Note Seek: I have wonderful childhood memories of finding notes from my Dad, who worked nights, next to my place at the breakfast table. These notes would start with a simple, yet cryptic sentence like “Look under the couch…” a look under the couch would reveal another mysterious note: “Look under the toaster.” The note under the toaster would direct me to another spot, and eventually, this series of notes revealed the location of a treasure: sometimes a simple trinket, other times a sweet message saying that he loved me and to have a great day at school. This activity makes a spirited game out of reading, and is sure to give your children fond memories of early morning note-hunts.
• Word of the Day: There are a lot of silly words out there! Have your child open a dictionary or thesaurus to a random page. Help them find the silliest word on the page, explain the definition, and then challenge the family to find ways to use it in a sentence during the day. In the evening, try to remember the sentences you created, or develop new ones together. This silly activity expands vocabulary and reminds us that words can be fun.

During car rides:

• Fast-Paced Word Hunt: Does your family spend a lot of time in the car? Use your next drive as an opportunity to have some fun, while practicing reading. Challenge your children to read as many words as they can find along the streets, or have them “search” for certain words. For example, the first person to read the word “stop” on a sign receives a point, and so on.

Other Easy Activities:

• Sending And Receiving Mail: Despite the fact that computers are an established part of most classrooms, children are still required to write the alphabet. Capitalize on the fact that kids love to send and receive mail by encouraging them to write letters to favorite authors, a member of the armed forces, an out-of-state cousin, or a friend in another town.  Model this behavior by sitting with them and writing your own letters to family or friends.
• Family Scribe: Kids love to write on chalkboards. Consider creating a “menu board” in your kitchen using a pre-made chalkboard, or try this easy make your own chalkboard project. Ask your child to write out the dinner menu for the next evening. Not only does this activity give kids a chance to practice their words and letters, but it also gives them a “job”, which builds self-esteem and responsibility. 

For additional parent resources visit Read Across America's website.  Parents and teachers can download posters, certificates, and reading tips.

Johanna Corcoran is a Johnston resident, member of our Mom's Council, and founder of Familytopia. Learn more about Familytopia by visiting www.myfamilytopia.com.