Helping our kids read better
- 1. Helping our kids be better readers Why is it important? What can we do?
- 2. Why can’t our kids read well? “Our kids can't read because they are not reading. Instead, they are plopped in front of TVs and video games.” - David Walsh, Ph.D. is the president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family
- 3. How can we fix that problem? Ask teachers to send more books home. Go to the library as a family on the night it is open late to check out books. Be a life long learner. Take classes yourself. Think what an inspiration for your child! Stop watching TV?
- 4. Our challenge for parents tonight…. Watch educational DVDs and videos instead of TV and talk about them as a family. Limit TV watching to 1 show of choice per night and add 1 educational DVD or video or CAREFULLY selected program.
- 5. Reflection: Is that possible? “Kids' screen time, not counting computer use, is a whopping average of thirty-two hours every week.” How many hours are the kids in your house reading per week? How many hours of TV does your family watch per week? Turn and talk. Are your kids on the “Reading is a pleasure” cycle or “Reading is a frustration cycle”?
- 6. Kids who are working hard to learn to read The kids who work diligently at their reading skills begin to reap rewards. They enjoy reading a good story. As they get the rewards, they want to read more. And as they read more, their skills get even better.
- 7. Reading is a pleasure cycle Child reads more Child becomes a better reader “ Reading is great”
- 8. Kids who watch lots of TV TV gives instant gratification. Reading takes effort and practice. To master reading takes four to five years (delayed gratification).
- 9. Reading is a frustration cycle Instant gratification More and more difficulty reading Heavy TV watching More TV, less reading Frustration with doing something that requires effort
- 10. TV in the bedroom? Research by the National Institute on Media and the Family shows that kids with TVs in their bedrooms watch an extra five and a half hours every week and don't do as well in school.
- 11. Why are educational DVDs, videos, and programs any better than regular TV? Nothing is as good as the real thing. Using the time to read is best, but not always possible. Let’s take a look at what we need to learn to read before we answer that question fully…
- 12. Reading Magic by Mem Fox Exposure to language…ASL, English, Chinese—any language!! Exposure to print—labels around your house, word walls at home, fingerspelling, pointing to words with your kid, reading signs, food labels, etc. Exposure to narrative or story structure—telling a story or reading a story General knowledge
- 13. General knowledge “ The more we know about life, the universe, and everything, the easier it is to read.” - Mem Fox
- 14. How do we get general knowledge By reading By being in the world—trips anywhere and everywhere Listening to interesting adults Fascinating TV shows and videos
- 15. Let’s try it! Watch a short segment. Take mental notes Turn and talk to our neighbor about what we learned. Discussion: Do you think you could watch a DVD like this at home instead of the usual cartoons? Questions? As a family? If not how could you help your kid understand it if it was all new information for him/her?
- 16. “ I am cooking dinner…I can’t watch it with them” Some tips to think about: Talk to them about what they learned. Be interested in all the science and history and geography that they must master before 6 th grade. Use the school library. Use the public library. Watch out for video fines…$1.00 per day at the public library. Watch your kid grow more interested in school and watch his or her desire to learn increase.
- 17. How can we find good DVDs and videos? Right here!!! We are inaugurating a take home envelope system to any child who requests it. Now, students can borrow one DVD or video per week. If you want your child to borrow one per day, sign the permission slip and return to teacher. As soon as your child returns a video, he or she can get another one. 10 minutes before lunch, those kids can come to the library and exchange their DVD/Videos every day EXCEPT Wednesdays.
- 18. Sign up now! Adult literacy flyers Public library schedule
- 19. FCC regulations http:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/childtv.html