Plant the seeds. . .grow good readers!

Summer evening storytelling. In most parts of the United States, summer nights are long and warm—perfect for trying out that great summer tradition, storytelling. You don’t need a campfire to plan a time when the whole family can be together outdoors in the evening. Read a book by one of the country’s regional storytellers. Try The Day it Snowed Tortillas: Folktales Told in Spanish and English by New Mexico storyteller Joe Hayes, The Jack Tales by North Carolina storyteller, Ray Hicks, or listen to a CD by Vermont storyteller Odds Bodkin.

Travel to the stars. To some people, summer vacation means sitting outdoors in the evening and looking at the stars. If you live in a place where you can sleep outdoors in the backyard, then pitch a tent in your backyard, look up at the stars, and tell stories late into the night. You can get away from it all and take a trip to the stars with your family with the help of a good book about the planets and the stars. Try Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey; Destination Space by Seymour Simon (about the discoveries of the Hubble Telescope); and the DK Space Encyclopedia by Nigel Henbest.

Read aloud tales from around the world. Summer nights offer a great opportunity to read aloud together as a family. What better way to experience new places than to choose a selection of folktales from around the world?

Make a time capsule. Leave your day-to-day routines behind by reading about time travel and then making a time capsule. Suggest your child read or listen to A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L. Engel, Moon Window by Jane L. Curry, or another book about time travel.

See a play or a movie based on a book. There are many plays and movies appropriate for children based on children’s classics. Some choices currently on DVD or in theaters include: James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting, and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.

taken from RIF at www.rif.org/parents/tips

Facing a summer without vacation plans? Here are some ideas to help you and your family get away from it all this summer, with the help of some good books of course.

Read a book that takes you to another part of the country. Experience another region of our country with the help of a good book. Look at a map of the United States with your child and talk about the parts of the country he or she might want to visit someday. Then search online or visit your local library to learn more about that region.

Visit a local museum. To get in the mood for a visit to a museum, big or small, your child could read one of the following books: The Field Mouse and the Dinosaur Named Sue by Jan Wahl, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, or The Explorabook: a Kid’s Science Museum in a Book by John Cassidy.

Visit a historical site. Check out the National Register of Historic Places at your local library to find a historic site near you. Then look at your state-by-state booklist or visit your local library to see if you can find a book about historic times. The Magic Tree House series and the American Diary series are both popular collections which tell engaging tales about the past. Learning about the past is another way to leave the everyday world behind while still in town.

Plan a day of fun or relaxation. Nothing says vacation more than a relaxing day or two where you sit around and enjoy life. Pick something to do that’s pure summer fun like spending the day at a local pool or swimming hole, an amusement park or local sporting event. Read Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, a book about a girl who manages to get away from it all even though summer escape is the tar roof of her very own building.

Enjoy the great outdoors. What better time than summer to take a day trip to hike, swim, catch fireflies, look at birds or plants, and enjoy the great outdoors? Even if you’re not going away, you can still enjoy all that nature has to offer near to your home. Is there a state park, city park, or arboretum nearby? Some books to get your family in the mood for an outdoor adventure are: Pet Bugs: A Kid’s Guide to Catching and Keeping Touchable Insects by Sally Kneidel; DK Nature Encyclopedia by Dorling kindersely Publishing; and Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark and Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. For a different kind of wilderness story an older child could read My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.

taken from RIF at www.rif.org/parents/tips

Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often experience learning losses.

Combine activities with books. Summer leaves lots of time for kids to enjoy fun activities, such as going to the park, seeing a movie, or going to the beach. Why not also encourage them to read a book about the activity?

Visit the library. If your child doesn’t have a library card, summer is a great time to sing up. In addition to a wide selection of books to borrow, many libraries have fun, child-friendly summer reading programs.

Lead by example. Read the newspaper at breakfast, pick up a magazine at the doctor’s office, and stuff a paperback in your beach bag. If kids see the adults around them reading often, they will understand that literature can be a fun and important part of their summer days.

Talk it up. Talking with your kids about what you have read also lets them know that reading is am important part of your life. Tell them why you liked a book or what you learned from it.

Help kids find time to read. When planning summer activities with children, remember to leave some time in their schedules for reading.

Relax the rules for summer. During the school year, children have busy schedules and often have required reading for classes. Summer is a time when they can read what, when, and how they please. Make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own.

Have plenty of reading material around. Storybooks aren’t the only thing that kids can read for fun. Be sure to have newspapers, magazines, and informational material on hand that might spark the interest of a young reader.

Use books to break the boredom. Books that teach kids how to make or do something are a great way to get kids reading ahd keep them occupied.

Read aloud with kids. Take your children to see a local storyteller or be one yourself. The summer months leave extra time for enthusiastic read-alouds with children no matter what their age. Don’t forget to improvise different voices or wear a silly hat to make the story that much more interesting!

taken from RIF at www.rif.org/parents/tips

(See last week’s posting for the first 5 suggestions for “reading outside the book”.)

Song Lyrics - Rare is the child who doesn’t love music. He or she may have already found the liner notes in the CDs, but encourage them to read along as they listen to songs. Also, your child can search for lyrics online and sometimes learn about the songwriter’s stories behind the songs.

Instructions - Summer is a time for backyard projects, like building swing sets, blowing up pool toys and assembling games and sports sets. Have your child read the instructions and help you go step by step on your project.

Food and product labels - Have your kids read the cereal box, bag of chips, soda can, suntan lotion bottle, bug spray, or anything else that is lying around. It won’t take them long to scan the words, and they’ll learn more about what they’re putting in or on their bodies.

CataloguesThese can be a great option if your child is exploring a particular interest. From soccer, to bedroom furniture, to clothes, catalogues have concentrated information on whatever turns your child’s head.

Backs of videos/DVDs - Rather than picking a movie based on its packaging, take your kids to the movie rental stores selection of older picks (not new releases). Have your kids select a movie based on the story description on the back of the box. Challenge them to find a good story based on the plot rather than the marketing.

taken from RIF at www.rif.org/parents/tips

Picking up a book on summer vacation might be the last thing on your child’s mind. But taking a break from books doesn’t have to mean taking a break from reading.

There are plenty of ways to keep reading beyond books. The key is to tune into interests kids already have. If your daughter loves swimming, provide ways for her to learn more about this sport through articles, brochures, tip sheets, and even catalogues. Let a video game-obsessed child read instructions, reviews, and strategy books.

During carefree summer vacation, let your kids explore ways to think outside the book. Here are some ways to keep kids reading in ways they might not have imagined.

Newspapers - Many newspapers have sections geared towards kids. The articles are generally short and snappy, and either appeal directly to kids or are written from a kid’s point of view. Also, keep an eye out for articles that might pique your child’s interests.

Magazines - Magazines for kids or preteens might seem fluffy. But if they keep your kids reading, the benefits might make up for the lack of heavy hitting content.

Cookbooks - Even if your children would much rather eat out than cook, cooking is a good opportunity to get kids reading. Give them a cookbook and a pack of Post-Its, and let them pick out several recipes they’d like to try this summer. You can also make the meals together as a family activity.

Comic books - Comic books and graphic novels are becoming more and more popular. The illustrations and often offbeat topics should keep kids interested.

Brochures - Are you going on a special vacation? Or do you just wish you were? Get brochures for destination spots, tourist attractions, and theme parks. Let your children read the brochures and get excited about an upcoming event or a potential adventure.

taken from Reading is Fundamental at www.rif.org/parents/tips

You can help your child prepare for testing by doing the following:
1. Discuss the importance of testing.
2. Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep before a test, and make sure your child eats properly the day of a test.
3. Maintain a pleasant home environment and avoid unnecessary conflicts.
4. Ensure that your child is presnt during testing. (Children perform better when taking tests in their groups rather than at a make-up time.)
5. If the test is of the kind subject to review (such as a spelling test), assist your child with practice.
6. If your child is disappointed after taking a test, reassure him or her that there will be plenty of opportunities to improve and succeed.
7. Wish your child good luck before he or she leaves for school.

Tips to give your child about taking tests:
1. Relax. Just do the best you can.
2. Your first choice is usually correct. Don’t change an answer unless you have a good reason to do so.
3. Be aware of key words such as “all”, “now”, “always”, “never”, “only”, and “exactly”.
4. In multiple choice questions the longest answer should be considered, since test writers want to be sure the correct answer is accurate.
5. When two answers are opposites, one of them is often correct.
6. Watch for negative words like “not”, “no”, or “never”.
7. Look for information in some of the questions. This information may help you answer other questions.

taken from Using Guided Reading to Accelerate the Success of All Your Students by Donna Gordon

1. Ask them to write a new ending to their favorite story.
2. Write with sidewalk chalk or on the shower tiles with soap crayons.
3. Play MadLibs.
4. Share a journal with your child and write notes back and forth.
5. Write a letter to Grandpa and Grandma.
6. Encourage them to exchange letters with a pen pal.
7. Don’t correct a beginner’s spelling.
8. Make fun place cards for dinner.
9. Attend writing activities in your community - like book signings.
10. Ask them to write a note about their day or a family trip they want to take.

taken from Raising Readers - sponsorship assistance from Target

If your child is suddenly struggling with reading, or stuck in a rut, get creative. Our surroundings are word-rich.

     1.Check out radio programs, plays, music, newspapers, and even television for exposure to new words. Talk with your kids about what you’re reading, seeing, or hearing.

     2.Visit the library.

     3.Play word games or do other activities that involve using print - conduct a treasure hunt with written clues or cook together from a recipe.

     4.Read with - and to - your child. Establish at least 15 minutes a day for reading. If your child is struggling with fluency, have him/her read her favorite books to you for practice.

     5.Kids also like to read together. Have your child read to a younger sibling. Encourage your child to read a book with another friend, or a group of friends, and discuss it together.

     6.If your kids show reluctance to read, it could be that they are not engaged in the subject matter. Many kids prefer nonfiction over fiction. If they have a keen interest - be it trucks, hockey, or cats - find books, magazines, and other materials on that subject. Encouraging your child to read for fun in his area of interest will make him/her a better reader, and more inclined to pick up new things.

     7.Make sure you’re reading. If kids don’t perceive that their parents value reading, they won’t either.

taken from Raising Readers - sponsorship assistance from Target

In your search for good books, try these ideas:

     1.Your school library
     2.The public library
     3.Library in your place of worship
     4.Garage sales
     5.Book exchanges at school. . .King School has a BOOK SWAP most Wednesdays in the Library from 11:45-12:15.
     6.Goodwill stores
     7.Salvation Army
     8.Used Book Stores
     9.Share books with neighbors
     10.Various Book Club newsletters sent home from school
     11.School Book Fairs
     12.Suggest books as possible gift ideas for birthdays, Christmas, and even baby gifts

taken from S. Klund - MN Reading Best Practice Network - 2003