Did you know…..
Research shows that family involvement promotes student success. Students with involved parents are more likely to:
Earn higher grades and pass their classes, Attend school regularly and have better social skills, Go on to postsecondary education.
When families, schools and communities work together:
Student achievement improves, Teacher morale rises, Communication increases, Family, school and community connections multiply
How should you get involved with your child’s education: Read with them and to them, Help with their homework every night, Ask what they have done in school that day, Get involved with the school – through activities, helping the classroom, fieldtrips, being active with the PTA, etc...
WHY the PTA: Shrinking budgets, increasing class sizes, government mandates, etc challenge our schools, principals and teachers in providing the quality education we all want for our children. The PTA is a great way to help take some of the burdens off of our school – providing funding for things that aren’t in the budget, finding volunteers to help teachers, sponsor activities so school can be seen as a place children WANT to be, help provide more communication between school and parents. We all want our children to have the best education possible – The best way to ensure that happens is to step up and get involved!!.
12 Great tips for reading with your kids.
1. Make reading part of every day.
Read at naptime, bedtime, before or after meals, while you wait at the doctor’s or dentist’s office — you name it.
2. Have fun!
Choose books that are fun for your child and you, and then enjoy the time you spend together.
3. Every minute counts.
Young children can sit still for a short story or two. But read to them now and as they grow, their attention spans will expand, too.
4. Show your child the cover.
Look at the picture on the front cover, and talk together about who or what the story might be about.
5. Talk about the pictures.
Don’t always read a book word for word. Sometimes it’s fun to just talk about what’s happening in the illustrations.
6. Get your child involved.
Babies can help turn board book pages; toddlers can point to and name objects and characters; your big kids can do all this and more.
7. Point to the words.
Sometimes it’s fun to run your finger under the words as you read. An older child especially may begin to recognize repeated words.
8. Skip a word.
Let your child fill in a word of a favorite book or one that uses repetitive language. Stop reading before the last word in a sentence to let your child fill in the blank. He may surprise you.
9. Make the story come alive.
Create voices for characters, use your body to tell the story, and vary the speed and volume of your voice. Let loose. Your child will love your antics.
10. Ask your child questions.
Your child is a little sponge. Ask her, "What is that?" or "What do you think will happen next?"
11. Let your child ask questions.
Use the story as an opportunity to talk about activities and objects related to the story.
12. Encourage your child to tell you the story.
Children as young as 3 years old can memorize a story and tell it to others, welcoming the opportunity to express their creativity.
BY
©2009 Target Stores. The Bullseye Design and Target are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. 165438
165438_0715_Family_12GreatTips.indd 1 5/20/09 11:18:46 AM
(information provided from: www.PTA.org)
