Summer Begins!

Summer has arrived and most schools are closing for the year if they haven't already. Many parents have mixed emotions about summer vacation. Its a great time of year for the entire family to plan a trip or just stay home and enjoy the weather. But its also a time when kids seem to lose some of what they learned the year before. In fact, teaches can tell you that much of the beginning of the next school year will be dedicated to relearning what was taught the year before. 

What can we do at home to make a difference in our kid's learning. Actually, quite a bit. The research tells us that what parents do at home is the type of parent involvement that has the biggest impact on student achievement. So, this summer there are a couple of things you can do and we will highlight a new idea for you each week. This week we will focus on literacy by highlighting Family Book Clubs.

To start your own Family Book Club, select a book that will interest you and your child and is on your child's reading level. Your local library has lots of good books you can borrow and the librarian can help you decide if the reading levels are right. Then decide how many pages or chapters you and your child will read each night. The next morning set aside some time to talk to each other about what you read. Be sure to talk about things like the plot, the main characters,  and the setting. 

This activity can help you to raise your child's vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. But the best part is the time you get to spend together!