Tim Shanahan, author of Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s bestselling Treasures Reading Program for grades K-6, has offered some great summer reading tips to parents. Out of the 10 tips he offers, these are the ones that have really proven to work for my 5yr old son:
Read Together! Summer usually allows families to spend more time together. This is a great opportunity to read more with your kids to help keep their skills fresh. Children learn a lot when you read to them. Even if your child can read by himself, take turns reading to each other, and be sure to talk about what you are reading. Ask questions, answer questions and explore the ideas together.
Ask Questions. Even if you are not reading the same books they are, talk to your children about what they are reading. Ask them questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest helps increase their interest.
Mix it up. Don’t just focus on storybooks. Kids often prefer to read about fact rather than fiction, including books and articles about the environment, animals, current events, sports, and other topics. Talk to them about what they like and help them find reading materials that match those interests.
And here are a couple of Tim's summer reading tips that I am anxious to try out:
Plan an Outcome Activity. Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading themselves, plan an outcome event or activity based on the reading. For instance, if the book has been made into a movie, watch the DVD together after reading the book. Book reading can lead to picnics, museum visits, ballgames or even family vacations.
Write Letters to Your Children. Writing to your kids is a great opportunity to remind them of experiences that they had when they were younger or to tell them about the lives of older people in the family, like their grandparents. Kids love getting letters and you can even encourage them to write back, helping them practice their writing skills.
Please take a moment to meet our Summer Reading sponsors:
"Envirosax® reusable shopping bags are spreading the eco-friendly message with style! Chic, inexpensive and compact, Envirosax® environmentally friendly shopping bags carry the message of re-use to a world ready to embrace a brighter ecological future."What you can win:
ONE lucky reader will win BOTH prize #1 and prize #2!
Prize #1: An age-specific series of 3 books from the Treasures Program (The books pictured below are only examples of what the winner will receive. The selection of books sent from the publisher will depend on the child's age and on availability.)
Prize #2: One reusable kids tote bag from Envirosax (Winner's choice)
These bags are perfectly sized for toting books to and from the library and also for carrying your books, towel, and swimsuit to the beach or the local swimming pool.
- - Bag dimensions (unrolled) 17.70” x 15.75”
- - Weight capacity 40 lbs
- - Bag dimensions (rolled up) 4” x 1.5”
- - Bag weight 1.3 oz
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment with at least one tip you'd like to share about how to get children to read more during the summer. You must do this to be eligible to win this contest.
Extra Entries:
1) For an extra entry, take a look at the Envirosax Kids Series. Then leave a comment telling me which kids tote bag you would choose if you won this contest.
2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.
3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites
4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND to the Treasures Reading Program AND to Envirosax.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.
5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.
6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day.
7) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
8) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
9) Add my "Graco Twin Stroller" giveaway button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
