FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Educating and Empowering All Students to Succeed
Raising a Reader
Read together every day.
You can read the morning news at breakfast, share a story after supper, or cuddle up for a book at bedtime. A daily reading routine is something everyone can look forward to.
Encourage your child's reading.
Praise the efforts of a soon-to-be or beginning reader. Make sure the schedules of older readers include time for reading for pleasure.
Be an engaged reader.
Use expressive voices for characters, make sound effects, and point things out in the text and illustrations to discuss.
Talk and build vocabulary.
Interesting conversations build vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge about the world. Talking and asking questions is a child’s best source of exposure to new words and ideas.
Let kids choose books.
Offer titles that explore your child’s interests, expand horizons, and offer exposure to different kinds of writing. Show them there are books where they can see themselves and books where they can see the worlds of others.
“Although many experiences are said to contribute to early literacy, no other single activity is regarded as important as the shared book experience between caregivers and children.”
– Former Asst. US Secretary of Education Susan Neuman.
Kindergartners and children in our early childhood programs will begin bringing home red Raising a Reader book bags each week. The red bags contain three books that families can share together and return to school the next week. The goal is to support families in establishing, enhancing, and maintaining home reading routines.
Why are home reading routines so important?
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Healthy Brain Development-When you share books at home, it promotes strong parent-child relationships and a caring environment needed for healthy development.
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Language Skills- The language of books gives children a chance to hear and use words that they may not otherwise hear or understand.
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Parent-Child Bonding- Time spent together reading is quality time that will make memories that last a lifetime.
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Reading Motivation- When your child sees your interest in reading, they will think reading is important and fun, too!
When and where can your family read together?
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Before Bed- It helps calm your child and get them ready for bed.
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Before School- Often young children wake up early. This might just be a good time for you to share a book.
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While waiting- When you are waiting for a dentist, doctor, or other appointment to start, that’s a great time to share a book.
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Anywhere! Make sure to bring the books with you on the go, so that they are available when you have time. The park, your back yard, the community room, doctor or dentist waiting rooms all make good places to share books.
How should we share books together?
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Read the words- Parents and caregivers can read the words while the child turns the pages, holds the book.
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Talk about the pictures- Raising a Reader books come in a variety of languages, and some books are wordless. Share the book by making up a story about the pictures. Be sure to have fun!
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Stop to talk- Stop and talk while you are reading! This helps children to make links to their own life or learning.
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Share books in your home language- Reading in your home language provides a solid base for your child in their first language and supports learning another language.
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Increase length over time- At first, you may share books for a short time. As you feel more comfortable, increase the amount of time you spend reading.