Dear Parents,
This year we are encouraging our students to read a home between 20 minutes to 40 minutes (depending upon their age). “Study after study in the U.S. and internationally shows that literacy attainment is strongly related to the amount of voluntary reading children do.” These words by Stephen Krashen in a 2006 USA Today article verify what we at Sharon already know. CHILDREN WHO READ A LOT BECOME BETTER READERS!
Other researchers have backed up this statement. According to Dr. Cecil Mercer, Florida State,
About 1.6 minutes total per day.
in school and 20 minutes per day out of school.
per day.
Your students will be bringing home EASY BOOKS, BOOKS AT THEIR GRADE LEVEL, and CHALLENGING BOOKS. All of these are important, but the EASY BOOKS tend to be under valued. These books are the best at helping to build fluency, confidence, and also give the practice needed for children to lock these words into long term memory. Please encourage your student to read these EASY books; particularly if he/she are in grades K – 3rd. These books should be read until they can be read fluently and with expression. If you would like ideas about how to make this time fun and interesting, please contact me at school.
Sincerely,
Rebecca England
Literacy Facilitator
980-343-6725