Does your home library offer…?

• A variety of books? Kids love to read all sorts of materials, including books, magazines, newspapers, and poems. Consider including travel brochures, street maps, and programs from school plays.

• Books written at a variety of reading levels? It's important to have some books that are easy for your child to read, but it's also good to have some that can be read most successfully with an adult. This balance enables your child to feel confident with some books, and grow as a reader with others.

• Some method of organization? Sometimes grouping books by topic or series helps your child find other books they might like to read. Grouping books using book baskets also help kids find a book more easily than a crowded shelf.

• Lots of nonfiction material? Even the youngest readers love to read about real places and things. These materials often include photographs, maps and charts full of interesting information.

• Lots of choice? Find creative ways to add books to your library. Playgroup book swaps, yard sales, and used book stores all offer affordable ways to add to your collection.

      (Courtesy of Reading Rockets)

Finding ¨just right¨ books for your child!

https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/childrens-books/articles/selecting-books-your-child-finding-just-right-books 

Children's authors and illustrators: supporting struggling readers

Listen in to children's authors and illustrators talk about books that appeal to struggling readers (including graphic novels), how to find the right books, the joy of audio books, why every library should have an "awesome shelf" — and more.

You'll hear from Megan McDonald (Judy Moody series), Jerry Pinkney (The Lion and the Mouse), Emma Watson Hamilton (Raising Bookworms), Jarrett Krosoczka (Lunch Lady series), Lin Oliver (Here's Hank and Hank Zipzer series), Cece Bell (El Deafo), Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda series), Matt Holm (Babymouse and Squish series), and others!  Just click on the link below, and scroll down:

(This excerpt is reprinted)

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/hooking-struggling-readers-using-books-they-can-and-want-read

*Download Lunch Box Notes:

https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-lunch-box-notes.pdf 

Lunch box notes help kids practice literacy skills in a low-pressure setting. Young readers can practice recognizing familiar words like “love” and their own names, while kids of all ages will appreciate the encouragement these messages offer.

Lunch box notes also remind us that it’s worth taking time to write real, physical letters to one another — not just texts, comments, or emails. Help your child step out of their comfort zone and connect with others while building their self-esteem. 

Maybe most importantly, lunch box notes are fun! They’re a reminder that literacy skills bring small joys in the middle of an average day.

*Scholastic created free printable lunch box notes for you to download, adapt, and use any time! Share your love and support with your favorite kids at lunchtime or any time.

Are you wondering why your child is struggling?

Figuring out what’s going on can feel overwhelming. Introducing a simple step-by-step tool to help you figure out if the struggles you’re seeing might be signs of a learning and thinking difference...

https://www.understood.org/take-note/en 

Reading Aloud with Your Child

Reading aloud with your child for only 15-20 minutes a day can have a lasting effect on their oral language, comprehension, vocabulary and visual imagery. It is never too early to begin reading with your child.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said that when parents talk, read and sing with their babies and toddlers, connections are formed in their young brains. These connections build language, literacy and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills at an important time in a young child’s development. 

Reading out loud has an exponential impact on language development, comprehension and vocabulary. Click to watch the video or download the PowerPoint.

Jim Trelease, the author of the much respected Read-Aloud Handbook, says that not only is it important to read to young children, but research has shown that reading aloud to children through their early teens is important too. Why? Because a child’s reading level doesn’t catch up to their listening level until Grade 8.

When reading aloud on subjects or in genres kids love such as sci-fi, fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, graphic novels, Norse mythology and even Minecraft, they will get excited about the plot, and this will be a motivation to keep reading.

Jim Trelease said it best: “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”

________________________________

Especially for Parents! (Just click on each title for the link to the article...) 

• Recognizing Reading Problems

• 7 Things to Know About the 1 in 5 with Learning and Attention Issues

• Common Signs of Dyslexia

• Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: 8 Steps for Parents

• Having Your Child Tested for Learning Disabilities Outside of School

• Suspect a Problem?

• Clues to Dyslexia from Second Grade On

• When to Call Your Child's Teacher

• Early Signs of a Reading Difficulty

Help your child with math and reading at home this summer :

Have your child answer these 3-5 questions as a quick review. It isn’t a test—they can relax and solve the problems—like a game! At the end, you’ll get fun, free activities to help set your child up for success in their new grade.

https://bealearninghero.org/readiness-check/

Conflict Ladder

The US Department of Health and Human Services offers some building blocks that children can be taught to help them learn to deal with the inevitable conflicts they'll experience throughout life. The skills include staying calm, listening to the other person and getting ideas to solve the problem. Not only will you want to discuss these, but also you'll want to model them in your behavior.

If you need help downloading the printable, check out these helpful tips.

Materials

• Click to print this conflict ladder coloring page:

https://cf.ltkcdn.net/kids/files/1727-ladderprintable.pdf

• Crayons or markers

Instructions

In this activity, you're going to use the concept of a ladder to teach children how to solve conflicts with others. Provide each child with a drawing of a ladder that has six rungs. As you go through each rung, the children will color it in with the color you state and this will help them remember the concept to resolve conflict. Tell children they must climb the rungs in order, because if they skip one they might slip and fall back into conflict.

• Blue: The color blue stands for calm. Take some deep breaths to overcome your anger and stay calm when you have a conflict with someone else.

• Red: The color red stands for stop. Stop and take a minute to listen to what the other person is saying. Repeat what they've said back to them to make sure you really understand the problem.

• Yellow: The color yellow stands for caution. Proceed carefully and use "I" statements so you don't sound like you are accusing the other person. For example, instead of saying, "You're mean!" say, "I feel like I'm being treated unfairly." Put the focus on you and or your feelings.

• Red: Use red again because you need to remember to stop and listen after you've made your "I" statement. Let the other person respond. Some conflicts are due to misunderstandings. For example, your friend might say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. This is what I meant."

• Green: Green stands for "go!" Go, and get other people to help you solve the problem. Gathering ideas from others usually results in a resolution of the problem.

• Blue: Blue again to remind you to stay calm, even if the resolution isn't what you wanted or you are unable to solve the conflict.

How to help your child become a stronger writer...

What you need

• Pencils, crayons, or markers

• Yarn or ribbon

• Writing paper or notebook

• Cardboard or heavy paper

• Construction paper

• Safety scissors

Before getting started

Provide a place

It's important for your child to have a good place to write, such as a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface. It's also crucial to have good lighting.

Provide the materials

Provide plenty of paper (lined and unlined) and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.

Brainstorm

Talk with your child as much as possible about her ideas and impressions, and encourage her to describe people and events to you.

Activities for young children

Encourage the child to draw and to discuss her drawings

Ask your child questions about her drawings such as:

"What is the boy doing?"

"Does the house look like ours?"

"Can you tell a story about this picture?"

Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.

Ask your child to tell you simple stories as you write them down

Copy the story as your child tells it, without making changes. Ask her to clarify anything you don't understand.

Encourage your child to write her name

Practice writing her name with her, and point out the letters in her name when you see them in other places (on signs, in stores, etc.). She may start by only writing the first few letters of her name, but soon the rest will follow.

Use games

There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home.

Turn your child's writing into books

Paste her drawings and writings on pieces of construction paper. For each book, make a cover out of heavier paper or cardboard, and add special art, a title, and her name as author. Punch holes in the pages and cover, and bind the book together with yarn or ribbon.

Day-to-day activities

Make sure your child sees you writing

She will learn about writing by watching you write. Talk with her about your writing so that she begins to understand why writing is important and the many ways it can be used.

Encourage your child to write, even if she's scribbling

Give your child opportunities to practice writing by helping her sign birthday cards, write stories, and make lists.

As your child gets older, write together

Have your child help you with the writing you do, including writing letters, shopping lists, and messages.

Suggest note-taking

Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings, and to describe what she saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.

Encourage copying

If your child likes a particular song, suggest that she learn the words by writing them down. Also encourage copying favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.

Encourage your child to read her stories out loud

As your child gets older, ask her to share her stories with you. Listen carefully without interrupting, and give her positive feedback about her ideas and her writing!

Hang a family message board in the kitchen

Offer to write notes there for your child. Be sure that she finds notes left there for her.

Help your child write letters and emails to relatives and friends

These may include thank you notes or just a special note to say hello. Be sure to send your child a letter or card once in awhile too so that she is reminded of how special it is to get a letter in the mail. Consider finding a pen pal for your child.

Encourage keeping a journal

This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people she likes or dislikes and why, and about things she wants to remember and do. If she wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them together.

Things to remember

Allow time

Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers often spend a lot of time thinking, preparing, and researching before starting to write. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient — this may all be part of her preparation.

Respond to your child's writing

Respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in what the writing conveys, which means focusing on "what" the child has written rather than "how" it was written. It's usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.

Praise your child's writing

Take a positive approach and find good things to say about your child's writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Original? Creative? Thoughtful? Interesting?

Avoid writing for your child

Don't write a paper for your child that will be turned in as her work, and don't rewrite your child's work. Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of it are also important parts of the writing process.

Help your child with her writing as she gets older

Ask your child questions that will help her clarify the details of her stories and assignments as they get longer, and help her organize her thoughts. Talk about the objective of what she is writing.

Provide your child with spelling help when she's ready for it

When your child is just learning how to read and write, she may try different ways to write and spell. Our job is to encourage our children's writing so they will enjoy putting their thoughts and ideas on paper. At first, your child may begin to write words the way that she hears them. For example, she might write "haf" instead of "have", "frn" instead of "friend", and "Frd" instead of "Fred." This actually is a positive step in developing her phonemic awareness. Keep practicing with her, and model the correct spelling of words when you write. As your child gets older and begins to ask more questions about letters and spelling, provide her with the help she needs.

Practice, practice, practice

Writing well takes lots of practice, so make sure your child doesn't get discouraged too easily. It's not easy! Give her plenty of opportunities to practice so that she has the opportunity to improve.

Read together

Reading and writing support each other. The more your child does of each, the better she will be at both. Reading can also stimulate your child to write about her own family or school life. If your child has a particular favorite story or author, ask her why she thinks that story or that person's writing is special.

As you read and write more with your child, you will be building an important foundation, and taking steps that will help your child to become a better reader, writer, and student. Your efforts now will make a difference — and it may be just the difference that your child needs to succeed!

(Courtesy of Reading Rockets!)

Child Mind Institute Symptom Checker:

A free resource for concerned parents, created by clinical experts...

https://childmind.org/symptomchecker/ 

_______________________________________

A Parent's Guide to Anime

http://www.abcb.com/parents/ 

Manga 

https://www.readbrightly.com/things-parents-and-educators-should-know-about-manga/ 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/14-kid-friendly-manga-arent-pokemon/ 

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2019/02/04/manga-recommendations-middle-schoolers 

https://bookriot.com/manga-for-kids/