Ellie Cundiff, Principal
October 02, 2019
Principal's Message
There is no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill your storytimes with a variety of books. Be consistent, be patient, and watch the magic work. It's no secret that activities at home are an important reinforcement for what your child learns in the classroom, but there's more to it than that. There are things that parents can give children at home that the classrooms cannot give. You are the ones that can show your child that reading is an important skill and joyful activity. Start when your child is young and stay with it. At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on cardboard pages. Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page so talk to your children often. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. Don't be discouraged if you skip a day. Just read to your child as often as you possibly can. Your child may go through a period when he/she favors one book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for different types of stories. Talking about stories is often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've read together.
Don’t forget to complete your reading logs.
