Helping our kids be better readers

Why is it important? What can we do?

National Institute on Media and the Family

Why can’t our kids read well?

“Our kids can't read because they are not reading. Instead, they are plopped in front of TVs and video games.”

- David Walsh, Ph.D. is the president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family

How can we fix that problem?

Ask teachers to send more books home.

Go to the library as a family on the night it is open late to check out books.

Be a life long learner. Take classes yourself. Think what an inspiration for your child!

Stop watching TV?

Our challenge for parents tonight….

Watch educational DVDs and videos instead of TV and talk about them as a family.

Limit TV watching to 1 show of choice per night and add 1 educational DVD or video or CAREFULLY selected program.

Media Wise 2006

Reflection: Is that possible?

“Kids' screen time, not counting computer use, is a whopping average of thirty-two hours every week.”

How many hours are the kids in your house reading per week?

How many hours of TV does your family watch per week? Turn and talk.

Are your kids on the “Reading is a pleasure” cycle or “Reading is a frustration cycle”?

National Institute on Media and the Family

Kids who are working hard to learn to read

The kids who work diligently at their reading skills begin to reap rewards.

They enjoy reading a good story. As they get the rewards, they want to read more. And as they read more, their skills get even better.

Reading is a pleasure cycle

Child reads more

Child becomes a better reader

“Reading is great”

National Institute on Media and the Family

Kids who watch lots of TV

TV gives instant gratification.

Reading takes effort and practice. To master reading takes four to five years (delayed gratification).

Reading is a frustration cycle

Instant gratification

More and more difficulty reading

Heavy TV watching

More TV, less reading

Frustration with doing something that requires effort

National Institute on Media and the Family

TV in the bedroom?

Research by the National Institute on Media and the Family shows that kids with TVs in their bedrooms watch an extra five and a half hours every week and don't do as well in school.

Why are educational DVDs, videos, and programs any better than regular

TV? Nothing is as good as the real thing. Using

the time to read is best, but not always possible.

Let’s take a look at what we need to learn to read before we answer that question fully…

Fox, Mem. Reading Magic. 2003.

Reading Magic by Mem Fox

Exposure to language…ASL, English, Chinese—any language!!

Exposure to print—labels around your house, word walls at home, fingerspelling, pointing to words with your kid, reading signs, food labels, etc.

Exposure to narrative or story structure—telling a story or reading a story

General knowledge

General knowledge

“The more we know about life, the universe, and everything, the easier it is to read.”

- Mem Fox

How do we get general knowledge

By reading By being in the world—trips anywhere and

everywhere Listening to interesting adults Fascinating TV shows and videos

Let’s try it!

Watch a short segment. Take mental notes Turn and talk to our neighbor about what we

learned. Discussion: Do you think you could watch a

DVD like this at home instead of the usual cartoons? Questions? As a family? If not how could you help your kid understand it if it was all new information for him/her?

“I am cooking dinner…I can’t watch it with them” Some tips to think about: Talk to them about what they learned. Be interested in all the science and history and

geography that they must master before 6th grade. Use the school library. Use the public library. Watch out for video fines…$1.00 per day at the public

library. Watch your kid grow more interested in school and

watch his or her desire to learn increase.

How can we find good DVDs and videos? Right here!!! We are inaugurating a take home envelope system to

any child who requests it. Now, students can borrow one DVD or video per

week. If you want your child to borrow one per day, sign the

permission slip and return to teacher. As soon as your child returns a video, he or she can

get another one. 10 minutes before lunch, those kids can come to the

library and exchange their DVD/Videos every day EXCEPT Wednesdays.

Sign up now!

Adult literacy flyers Public library schedule

FCC regulations

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/childtv.html

http://www.mediafamily.org/kidscore/index.shtml