HOULTON, Maine — It was Dr. Seuss who wrote, ‘The more that you read the more things you will know and the more that you learn the more places you will go! This is what RSU 29 and Houlton Rotary members are hoping will happen.
Several Rotarians are volunteering time each week to partner with students at Houlton schools to support and encourage young readers. This program is part of Rotary Literacy. This committee represents people from several businesses and organizations within the community and retirees. Through this initiative members of Houlton Rotary were invited to volunteer at the schools, listening to children read.
Craig Bean, former Houlton Regional Hospital administrator is one of them.
Bean said, “The needs of some of the students are unbelievable, but we can make a difference not only by reading with them, but talking with and to them.”
Bean, now retired from his professional career spends several hours a week working with the students and enjoys his time with them. He is getting to know several and sees how important it is for some to have a role model. It is beneficial for both the student and the volunteer. Others who volunteer may still be working, but have carved 30 minutes out of their day to make a difference.
In addition, second grade teachers and students have been engaged in a Reading Challenge to promote lifelong readers. At Houlton Elementary School second grade teachers feel that even as children become readers, it is still very important for parents to remain involved in their children’s reading.
From December to March second grade students have been participating in the second annual Family Reading Challenge. Along with 10-15 minutes of reading each day at home, students were challenged to share the books they were reading with their families at least once a week through book talks.
Janet Murakami, RSU 29’s literacy coach said, “Many parents read to their children when they are young, but as children move up through the grades and become independent readers, parents often spend less time reading with their child.”
During this family reading event, second-graders shared a total of 1,477 book talks with family members. Students celebrated this amazing accomplishment with their teachers on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday. They received certificates from their teachers for their book talks and enjoyed Dr. Seuss cupcakes as a treat.
Murakami also shared information about a Read Aloud non-profit organization that is promoting a national campaign that encourages reading aloud to every child, every day from birth.
Fifteen minutes of daily reading is a must for parents and their children. Research has shown that when parents spend 15 minutes a day reading aloud to their children from birth to age 8 it can change the face of education in this country.
This campaign is reaching out to community groups, day-care providers, schools, businesses, employees, libraries and faith based organizations to spread the word.
Their goal is to have every child ready to learn by the time they enter kindergarten and continue to build skills throughout the early elementary years. It is only possible by starting at birth.
Referring to other well-known campaigns such as: the Komen Foundation, “Mothers Against Drunk Driving”, “Just Say No to Drugs” and “Wear Red for Heart Disease” the Read Aloud organization believes with dedicated support and awareness that a Read Aloud campaign can be just as successful.
All of these programs had four things in common: a national awareness, passionate leadership, a campaign strategy and a clear and concise visual message. So therefore, if we pledge to spend more time reading with our children, we too can make a difference.
Here are some helpful tips for integrating reading into your family’s activities:
Read bedtime stories, play a board game, visit your local library, read a recipe and cook together, create a comfy reading space in your home, put your child in charge of reading a grocery list at the store, choose books that are appropriate.
How does one know if the reading material is at their child’s level? Use the five finger rule. Open the book to any page and ask your child to read. Put up a finger every time your child does not know a word. If you have put up more than five fingers before the end of the page, this book is too hard. Choose books that match your child’s interests.
Once you have found appropriate books, encourage your child to use his/her finger to point to each word. Read a sentence and have your child repeat it. Take turns reading a sentence or a page each. Talk about the story as you read it. “What do you think will happen next? What does this story remind you of? How do you think this character feels?”
Don’t be afraid to read the same book again! Repeated reading increases fluency. When your child is ready for more, start the book by making predictions. “What do you think will happen in this story?” Don’t forget to ask questions and make comments during the reading process. After reading the book have your child tell you the events from the story in the correct order. Ask what the problem was in the story or how do you think the character felt when a specific incident happened? Encourage your child to make connections to other books they may have read or an event in your life or a movie one has seen.
Keep plenty of reading materials, such as books, newspapers, magazines and comic books in your home and in your vehicle. Take something to read to appointments so there is something to do while waiting.
Remember, parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Reading aloud is the single most important thing a parent or caregiver can do to improve a child’s readiness to read and learn.
By making 15 minutes of daily reading aloud the new parenting standard, parents can make a huge difference in their child’s education.
More information about this campaign can be found along with book suggestions: www.readaloud.org.
