1. How reading to your child helps improve learning and behavior.

2. Overview Welcome Introduction to Parent Education Meetings Power point presentation Question/Answer Read Aloud – Grace Niederlehner Door Prizes Thank you and Good Night!

3. Parent Education Meetings Grant from the Aldridge Foundation Provide training opportunities for parents A chance for parents to meet and mingle

4. Literacy and Learning What does the research say? The single most important activity for building these understandings and skills essential to reading success appears to be reading aloud to children. (Wells 1985;Bus, Van Ijzendoorn &Pellegrini 1995) A central goal during these preschool years is to enhance childrens exposure to and concepts about print (Clay 1979, 1991:Holdaway 1979;Teale 1984;Stanovich &West 1989)

5. Literacy and Learning What does the research say?, continued The best tool for increasing a childs attention span is one on one time with the child. One on one time is essential to teaching the concept of books, puppies or flowers etc (Trelease, 2001)

6. Literacy and Learning What can you do: Read out loud to your child. Start reading when your child is a baby and continue throughout their life time. Read the same book over and over. Ask friends and family to read to your child. Visit the library.

7. Literacy and Learning What can I do continued: Tell stories to your child Let them see you reading.

8. Literacy and Learning Why is this important? Reading aloud: Builds childrens vocabulary with words they can use and understand. Helps children to learn about print concepts. Gain background knowledge about a variety of topics. Helps build listening skills and attention spans.

9. Literacy and Learning Problems and Solutions : I am short on time- Try to find just 5 minutes to sit down and read with your child. Make it a part of his/her bedtime routine or while they are in the bathtub. My child wont sit still- Choose short books and build up the amount of time, pick a time when they are tired, have them sit in your lap. My child tears the books - Use board books. Any others?

10. Literacy and Learning References: Reading is Fundamental- www. rif.org Trelease, J. (2001) The Read Aloud Handbook. Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children-A joint position statement of the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

11. Literacy and Learning The more you read, the more you know and the more you know, the smarter you grow.

12. Save the Date! December Parent Education Meeting When: Wednesday, December 10 th 8:45-10:00 Topic: Managing your Preschoolers Behavior Presented by Sarah Callahan, ESE Behavior Specialist and Program Facilitator, Santa Rosa County Schools.