Empower Your Children to be Successful Readers!

Kindergarten isn't what it used to be. Kids today are expected to recognize their ABC's, their colors and shapes, and have a strong vocabulary before they start school!  The good news is that parents are the best teachers and you can make a difference in preparing your child for school. Below are some links to tips and ideas to help you prepare your child for school and for a lifetime of reading! 

• Tips for helping your child become a strong reader
• What Your Child Should Know for Grades K-3 (Courtesy of the Buffalo Public Schools)
• Helping your Child to Learn (Courtesy of the Buffalo Public Schools)
• Great Book Ideas for Families
• Family Reading Checklist
• Parent video testimonials about helping your child be a great reader!
• Mayor Byron W. Brown's Reading Rules Recommend Book List
  

Studies show that reading to children significantly increases their chances to succeed in school. So if you are a parent of an infant or toddler - or have young children that you care for - read out loud to them as often as possible. The basic skills for reading include learning the letters of the alphabet, the sounds of letters and new words.

The earlier you start, the better their chances will be to develop good reading skills on their own. And that's the basis for success in school.

Tips for helping your child become a strong reader

* Read with your child every day. Make it fun by reading in different rooms, on the front steps or the backyard.

* What's that sound? Young children need to understand sounds in order to read words. Pointing out things like fire truck sirens, barking dogs or car horns in the neighborhood can help your child learn about different sounds.

* Sing songs. Songs can help your child learn and remember new words. Sing lullabies or sing along to the radio in the car. Have fun making up your own songs with your child.

* Talk to your child. Use everyday events like taking a bath, getting dressed or brushing teeth as a chance to talk with your child. Ask lots of questions, use short sentences, and lots of words - especially new words.

* Play a rhyming game. If you are in a car or bus, help your child look for objects outside. For example, "I see a tree. What word can you think of that rhymes with tree?" Rhyming helps your child learn sounds and words.

* Be an Alphabet Detective. Help your child find an "A" on a sign, a "B" on a license plate, and so on. Take your child shopping and find the first letter of his or her name in labels on products you are purchasing.

* Write a grocery list together. Say the items you plan to buy as you write them down. This shows your child how letters form words.

* Have your child draw a picture and tell you a story. Drawing is one of the first steps in learning to write. Telling stories helps young children develop language skills.

Great Book Ideas for Families!

Pre-Reader Books

1. Ten, Nine, Eight (Bang)

2. The Very Quiet Cricket (Carle)

3. Maisy Goes to Preschool (Cousins)

4. The Little Dump Truck (Cuyler)

5. Knitty Kitty (Elliott)

6. Birds (Henkes)

7. Chickens to the Rescue (Himmelman)

8. My Elephant (Horacek)

9. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? (Martin)

10. Lion and The Mouse (Pinkney)
11. Wild About Books (Sierra)

Beginning Reader Books

1. Joe on the Go (Anderson) 


2. Gatitos! (Brimmer) Spanish

3. Runaway Bunny (Brown)

4. Diary of A Worm (Cronin)

5. Marley's Big Adventure (Hill) 


6. Shampoodle (Holub)


7. Pup and Hound (Hood)

8. Dia de Nieve (Keats) Spanish

9. Messy Bessey (McKissack)

10. Drinking Gourd: a Story of the Underground Railroad (Monjo)

11. Very Hairy Bear (Scherfle)

12. Have You Seen My Dinosaur (Surgal)

13. Duck Soup (Urbanovic)

14. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Willems)

15. The Napping House (Wood)

Parents, grandparents and other important adults in children's lives can have a powerrful impact on raising successful readers and learners. Here are some suggestions to help give your children the best start possible in school and in life! Put a check mark next to the ones that you are already doing. In a month or so, review the list to see if you have added any to your family schedule.

___ I read aloud to my children.

___ I buy books for birthday and holiday gifts.

___ My family makes regular use of the library.

___ My children see me reading for both pleasure and information from a variety of books.

___ I take a positive interest in all of my children's school subjects.

___ Our family plays word games and other learning activities.

___ My children have a dictionary that is appropriate to their age group.

___ I encourage my children to learn and use new words.

___ My children have a bookcase or shelf to keep personal books.

___ I encourage my children to write notes and letters and provide help when necessary.

___ I encourage my children to read for enjoyment every day.

___ I make sure that my children are well-rested and have a good breakfast each day before school.

___ I have regular contact with my children's teachers.