The Joy of Reading

The Joy of Reading!

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The last day of school this year for most students is just around the corner. Whether you are continuing on with your student next year or are ending your relationship, its critical that relationship closure is done properly in order to capitalize on all the progress you made this year. Its also a great opportunity for reflecting and strengthening your relationship.

At your next couple meetings, you should talk about your student's strengths and what the relationship has meant to you. You can also ask your student to reflect on what he or she thinks they gained through the relationship and what their favorite things about the time your spent together were. Click here for some ideas for your last few meetings.

Its also a great time to focus on introducing your student to the joy of reading. Please encourage your student to read as much as possible this summer and remind them that you'll be doing the same. After all, "reading gives all of us a place to go when we have to stay where we are."

The Joy of Reading

Instilling the love of reading in a child is the single best way to increase their IQ. To put it simply - Kids that read for fun do better academically than kids that don't. School performance correlates more directly with children's reading scores than any other single indicator.

Reading books expands children's vocabulary exponentially. It exposes them to new ideas than can spark passion and provides an escape from the stressors of everyday life. Everyone needs to curl up with a good book and escape into another world every now and then - and it's never too early to start. The key to instilling the love in reading is to make it FUN.

Here are a few tips for helping to inspire
a love of reading in your student that will
carry into the summer months:

Pick four books that you like and begin reading one with them. Encourage your student to read the remaining three this summer.
Encourage your student to alternate reading pages with you. (But don’t force it. It’s more important that the act of reading together is enjoyable than that you work on reading skills).
Read with funny voices and expression.
Use your finger to follow the words.
Select books with nice illustrations. (It makes the stories come alive even more).
Ask questions about the pictures, especially the cover. See if it gives clues about what is going to happen in the book.
Ask questions about the words and the content. “Do you know what “alfresco” means?”, “Why do you think they can’t go outside?” , “What do you like to do when its raining?”

Fun Questions for Conversation!

What's your favorite book? Why?
If you wrote a book, what would the story be about? What would name of the main of the main character be?
What would the plot line be in a story about you? How would the story end?
If the book about you was made into a movie, who would play the part of you?

I deas for Activities

Flower Craft s, Bunny Spring Paper Craft and
Little Critter Rain Outfit Paper Doll.

Younger Kids will enjoy singing and acting out the April Flowers Song, while older children (and their Elevators) might enjoy the water cycle experiments.

National Teachers Day is May 3 and Mother's Day is May 10.
Work with your student to create a card for their mother or teacher.

If its nice outside, blow bubbles, write on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk, play a game of "Horse" or help your student with spelling by coming up with different words for them to spell each time. (If you go outside, make sure that you are not alone with your student).

For May Day coloring pages, craft ideas, games and puzzles. Click here

EE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ALLISON MCJUNKIN
NAMED 'WOMAN ON A MISSION' HONOREE!
Allison McJunkin will be honored by Union Mission at a luncheon on May 19th at the Charleston Marriott Pavilion at 12:00 noon.
Click here for tickets!

From all of us to all of you -
have a great summer!