Read with your children and watch scores increase

Kari McGann, Lannigan Drive
   Parents can help raise reading scores so that our schools don’t fall short on test reports by simply making sure their children are reading every day.
   Support your community to increase school reading scores by trying some of these suggestions with your own children, or cutting out the suggestions and passing them along to someone with a child. Providing reading time and having books available are keys to a child’s reading success.
   Parents can support a child by providing opportunities to read alone and with others. Reading at home should be a positive experience for both the adult and child. One of the most challenging aspects of reading at home is choosing books that appropriately support a child as they move toward being an independent reader, allowing them to gain confidence as a reader and encounter more difficult texts.
   Help your child choose appropriate books, not too hard, not too easy, but just right. Read with your child by taking turns reading aloud — even with older children. Talk to your child about the books they are reading. Students should read daily at home, at least 20 minutes for elementary aged children and 40 minutes for middle school students and above. Talking about books and reading is an important part of any child’s learning. These conversations enable children to become lifelong readers and build our reading community.
   Try some of these conversation starters next time you read with your child.
   Why did you choose this book? What do you think will happen next? What part of the text makes you think that? Does this book remind you of anything that has ever happened to you? What have you been wondering as you read this? Does this book make you think of anything else you have read? Were there any words or phrases in your reading that you really liked? Which ones? What has been your favorite part of the book so far? Why? Would you like to read another book by the same author? Why or why not? Was there a part of the book that surprised you? Why? Can you think of someone else you know who would like this book?
   Do this daily, and watch our reading scores increase.
Kari McGann
Lannigan Drive