Read, Write, and Talk! Ideas from Parent Experts!

Read, Write, and Talk! Ideas from Parent Experts!
Posted on 04/06/2016
wkshpBy Kathy Greeley, ELA Coach

Parents are always asking teachers how they can support their child’s learning at home. But this past month, at a Parent Talk after the 1st Grade Family Breakfast, parents shared their own wisdom with each other. Using a technique teachers call “Turn and Talk,” parents paired up to brainstorm ways to support literacy outside of school by reading, writing, and talking. Here is some of their thinking:
  • Read to or with your child every day. Many people read with their children just before going to bed, but if that is not convenient, pick a different time of day. The important thing is to make it a daily routine. Reading high quality books, including picture books, is one of the best things you can do to support your child’s reading development. Did you know that good quality picture books have a higher level of vocabulary than most TV shows?
  • Tell stories! They can be personal stories from your family, traditional stories from your culture or heritage, or you can make them up! If you speak another language than English at home, it is wonderful to share these kinds of stories in your mother tongue.
  • Help your child notice and “read their world.” Print is all around us! It is on the cereal box, a street sign (“STOP” is a great word for early readers to learn), board game instructions and cards, labels and signs in the supermarket, billboards and advertisements.
  • Talk. Meal times can be stressful, but there is research showing that making the time to eat and talk together can significantly increase a child’s vocabulary and knowledge of their world. Or have a conversation in the car or on the bus when you are traveling. And don’t be afraid to use some big words. Children learn new vocabulary by hearing it around them.
  • You can help your child’s writing, too. They can help you write your shopping list. You can write them a daily note that goes in their lunchbox, backpack, or coat pocket. If they want a new toy, have them write you a request! And they can write a thank you note for that birthday check from a grandparent.
wkshpThe important thing to remember is that language is all around us. We use language every day to communicate with each other. Taking a few small steps to help your children build their language skills will give them a solid foundation on which to build the rest of their learning.
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