Get parents on board

The students who are the most successful readers and learners see that modeled at home. And although parents would like to say that they practice good reading habits, these habits are neither innate nor obvious. Lexile measures can help get books into a parent's hands too.

Did you know that:

  • While 80% of parents say it's very important for kids to read books for fun, only 21% of parents themselves read every day.
  • 53% of children of high-frequency readers are reading books for fun every day. However, among children whose parents read 2-3 times a month or less, only 15% read for fun daily (see reference below).

Train parents on good household reading habits

Tell parents that their children should read for at least 20 minutes each day to continue growing. They can help make this happen! Here's how:

  • "If I want to read it, I will read it:" Use Find a Book to discover interesting, targeted books together.
  • Practice reading hygiene: turn off TVs, radios, iPods and computers.
  • Read during the ads: mute the TV when advertisements come on and sprint-read until the show resumes.
  • Don't wait to read until after tuck-in: kids need to see their parents reading.
  • All for one: make time for the whole family to sit down together to read, or schedule a regular family library night.
  • Subscribe to some periodicals: read a newspaper article in the morning and magazines in line at the grocery store.

Discuss what you are reading

The analytical skills used in discussion are what your child needs on reading tests, and in life. But sometimes parents don't know exactly how to discuss a book with their child. Help them to avoid yes/no questions such as "Did you like it?" Send home these discussion ideas in the form of actual quotations parents can use:

  • "If the book was a TV show, which actors would you cast in it?"
  • "If the main character in that story lived next door, would you two be friends?"
  • "Where does the novel take place? Would you want to take a trip there? Why?"

Work reading into daily life

If a text is relevant to a child's life, he or she will want to read it, and will find a way to read it. Sometimes parents don't know exactly how to work reading into daily life. Send home these and other ideas in the form of actual quotations parents can use:

  • "Would you read that recipe to me while I cook, please?"
  • "Look, here's a review in the newspaper of that movie you've been wanting to see."
  • "I don't agree with you about that issue. Find an article online to convince me."

Reference

Scholastic & Yankelovich (2008), 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report