parent involvement one key to reading success western regional ira conference seattle, wa fall, 2008

Parent Involvement

One Key to Reading Success

Western Regional IRA ConferenceSeattle, WAFall, 2008

Dr. Barbara HonchellUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NChonchellb@uncw.edu

Dr. Sandy JonesSaint Andrews Presbyterian CollegeLaurinburg, NCjonessp@sapc.edu

Parent Involvement: Research Base

Evidence says parent involvement will make learning to read easier and more meaningful. (Walde & Baker, 1990; Education Alliance, 2007)

Research…

Parents play a significant role in helping children to become readers and writers when involvement is substantive, ongoing, and consistent. (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)

Research…Reading activity at home influences reading

achievement and reading attitudes. (Rowe, 1991)

Research…

Early literacy skills are related to home environment and reading proficiency through the primary years. (Rowe, 1991)

Research…

Most parents are willing to work with their children but…they don’t know how to help. (Chavkin & Williams, 1985)

Assessment ToolDirections

Give yourself 5 points on each question if you feel that what you are doing is “excellent”,

0 points for “poor”, or any

score in between you

think you deserve.

1. My child sees me reading something every day.

2. I have my own library card. We make regular trips to the library.

3. Things to read are easy to find in our home.

4. Sometimes I talk with my child about what I am reading.

5. My child and I often read things aloud to each other.

Rating Scale: How did you score?

25-20 Excellent, you are right on track. Talk to your child’s teacher for some new ideas.

19-15 Good work, you could try some suggestions from your child’s teacher that will raise your score.

14-0 There are some easy things to do that would really help your child. Your child’s teacher will be glad to help you.

Read Something Every Day

• Read every day at a regular time.• Read from a variety of materials

like magazines and newspapers.• Choose what is interesting to you

and your child: sports, comics, or animal stories.• Talk about what you read.• Ask your child’s opinion about what he reads.

Have a Library Card and Make Regular Trips to the Library

• Spend quality time with your child at the library.• Encourage your child to look for many kinds of

reading materials.• Take advantage of story hour, computer usage,

family night, summer reading clubs.• Remember the librarian is there to help you.• Get a family library card, it is free in most

communities.• Use your school library as well as the public

library.

Have Reading Materials in Easy to Access Locations in Your House

• Turn off the TV and read regularly.• Share stories at bedtime.• Share your favorite childhood stories with your

child.• Talk about what you are reading together.• Have books within easy reach.

Talk to Your Child about What You are Reading or Watching on TV

• Ask questions about what you read.

• Talk about new words.• Play word games like “I Spy”

Read Aloud to and with Your Child

• Read and reread favorite stories.

• Read with your child all school year long.

• Read with your child in the summertime.

• Take turns reading pages or reading in unison.

• When your child is reading to you, do not correct a mistake if the error makes sense.• If a word is really hard, tell your child the word and move on.• Reward your child’s reading efforts by commenting on the things he/she is doing well.• Some mistakes are okay. Don’t worry about every

mistake your child might make when reading.

Four Important Things to Keep in Mind when Working with Parents

• Concrete Examples

• Opportunities for Reading

• Specific Praise

• Tools (bookmark example)

ConclusionWe cannot expect that parents will know what todo to help just because they are parents. Parents must rely on us to provide the information about the literacy practices that will best meet the needs of their children. (Honchell & Jones, 2008)