Reading

If there's one thing you should know about me, it is that I love reading and collecting books!  Reading has always been an important part of my life, even when I was a little girl.  I used to read with my family every single day and now I read to myself each night.  Do you take time to read each day?  Did you know that reading for at least 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference? 


 Let's figure it out--mathematically!

Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week;
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night...or not at all!

1st: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.

Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 times a week = 100 mins./week
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes

2nd: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.

Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.

3rd: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year.

Student A reads 3600 minutes in a school year.
Student B reads 720 minutes in a school year.

Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.

By the end of 6th grade, if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits,

Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days.
Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days.

One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance. How do you think Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?

Think about it:

Which student would you expect to...
read better?
know more?
write better?
have a better vocabulary?be more successful in school....and in life?

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, America Reads Challenge. (1999) "Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader." Washington, D.C
 

Book Reports

We will have a book report project during this second quarter of the school, and you may expect one during the subsequent quarters as well.  Our book reports are designed to be a fun way for kids to share the books they are reading at home and apply the skills they have learned at school.  Because this is a mostly a homework project, I know that family members may want to get in on the fun.  I encourage you to enjoy the book with your child, by allowing him or her to read to you or by occassionally reading to him or her.  You may help your child with the creative and crafty portion of the project, and offer guidance as needed.  However, I ask that you keep in mind that that this is your child's project and should reflect his or her knowledge and ideas.  Please give your child the space to ask for suggestions or help before you offer it, and share any concerns you have with me through the weekly log or by email.  I hope that the book reports will encourage a love of reading and enjoyment of books!