Dear Families,

Did you know that family involvement has the most benefits for children when it takes place in the home environment?  Just a few simple actions on your part communicates to your child that reading and writing are valuable.  Here are some ideas:

• Set up a writing center in your home with paper, pencils, markers, index cards and envelopes.  Encourage your child to write stories, notes, and thank you cards.  Sit at the center with your child and write together.
• Read aloud to your child.  Listening to a story read aloud increases vocabulary and comprehension.  It also inspires writing ideas.
• Cook together.  Reading and following a recipe shows that reading and writing have a purpose.  Create your own recipes together and write them on recipe cards.
• Make up stories at the dinner table.  Have family members take turns adding to the story.
• Act out stories you have read together and think of other stories using the same characters in different situations.
• Listen for new vocabulary words while watching television.  Challenge family members to use the new words in conversation.
• Invite your child to read aloud his or her written work from school.  You will be amazed at the wealth of knowledge your child is gaining about writing opinion/argument, informative/explanatory, narrative nonfiction, and narrative fiction articles, letters and stories.

Showing that you are interested in what your child learns in school is the best thing you can do to help increase his or her educational achievement.

Sincerely,

PS 230 Staff