Thursday, August 28, 2008

One of the most important activities you can do with your children to prepare them for success in school is to read with them. Reading aloud to your kids stimulates their minds, strengthens their imaginations, and improves language skills. "A Place of Our Own," a daily television production of KCET in Los Angeles, provides tips for reading and sharing stories with young children:

Getting started

• Make reading time special. Turn off distractions like the TV.
  
  
• Make time to read every day. Reading fits into almost any routine.
  
  
• Schedule visits to the library (and get them library cards in their own names).
  
  
• Create a space that encourages reading. Make a "book nook" in your home especially for the kids.

Involving children

• Take time to look at the book’s pictures. Talk about them. Ask children what they think is happening or what the characters are feeling.
  
  
• Make the story come to life. Don’t be afraid to use different voices or inflections. Ask children to make special sounds (wind howling, dogs barking, etc.).
  
  
• Stop at interesting points in the story. Ask questions such as "What do you think will happen next?"
  
  
• Help children relate the story to their own experiences. Ask "Have you ever felt that way?"
  
  
• Read the same book over and over again. Children love the repetition and being comfortable with a book gives them confidence.

Selecting books

• Select and read a variety of books to children. Include poetry and stories about other cultures, lifestyles, and countries.
  
  
• Use books to help you discuss important events in children’s lives—welcoming a new baby, starting daycare, moving to a new home, etc.
  
  
• Continue to read to children after they have learned to read. This will expose them to language, ideas, and adventures beyond their own reading skills.

Other things you can do

• Give books as presents. This tells children that books are special.
  
  
• Let children see you read. Point out how reading helps you do important things like following a recipe or looking up a phone number.
  
  
• Have children make their own books. Use photos or their own drawings. Let children make up a story and have older children write it down for them.

"A Place of Our Own" is dedicated to the unique needs of people who care for children up to five years of age. For more information, go to aplaceofourown.org.

Though kids are busy stuffing their backpacks with supplies for the new school year, Reading Rockets has packed a different sort of back-to-school bag—a virtual one filled with resources to help set the tone for a successful school year. Resource highlights include:

• Back-to-School Transitions
  
  
• 10 Ways for Parents to Help Teachers
  
  
• Connect With Your School Counselor
  
  
• Tips for a Positive Partnership

Reading Rockets also has something special for parents to pack for their children. Lunchbox Notes—small, whimsically illustrated notes you can tuck in a lunchbox or bookbag—can remind your child that you are thinking of them, reinforce reading skills, and model the power of writing. Download them for free from the Reading Rockets website.

Applications for the PTA Healthy Lifestyles Awards are due to the PTA Office of Programs and Public Policy by 5:00 p.m. EDT, Friday, September 5, 2008.

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive up to $1,000 to support your unit’s Healthy Lifestyles activities this November!

Q: I’m so busy with so many things, but I want to be an involved parent. How can I keep track of PTA and school activities so that I can stay involved?

A: PTA offers a customizable Parent’s Calendar to assist you in keeping track of events, activities, and other information specific to your child, his/her school, and your local PTA. Download the calendar from the PTA website.

There are many ways that you can help your child succeed! A few small activities each week will pay huge dividends over the course of the year. Here are a few that you can do this week:

• Assist your child’s teacher in the classroom or on field trips when you are able.
  Ayude al docente de su hijo en el aula o los viajes de dia de campo cuando este disponible.
  
  
• Work with school staff and teachers to develop volunteer activities you can do from home.
  Trabaje junto a los docentes y el personal de la escuela en el desarrollo de actividades voluntarias que pueda hacer desde su casa.

Let's Fight Flu Together is an influenza awareness and vaccination campaign designed to urge children, families and members of the community about the risks of and recommendations regarding influenza; and to give them opportunity to get vaccinated against influenza.

PTA is working with Flu Busters, a leading provider of on-site vaccinations, and Novartis Vaccines, to provide convenient access to influenza vaccinations in local communities. Local PTAs are invited to host vaccination clinics on-site at local schools.

With the influenza season fast approaching, receiving an annual vaccination is the best defense in preventing this serious disease. This fall, PTA is asking you to Educate, Motivate, and Vaccinate in order to help protect children and their families from contracting influenza—ultimately keeping the whole family in school, at work and healthy!

Beginning the week of August 18th, local units will be receiving an Influenza Education & Vaccination Outreach Kit that provides turn-key materials for you to schedule and host an influenza vaccination clinic at your PTA school. There will be a series of template
documents and guides for you to customize and use to build awareness among students,
parents, school officials, and local media.

The cost for each shot is $30.00, of which $4.00 will be donated to the local PTA hosting the clinic and $1.00 to the state PTA. Free vaccinations are available to those that meet the qualifications of the federal Vaccine for Children (VFC) program.

To register your school for an on-site influenza clinic for your students and community, please visit pta.org/flushotclinics or call 1-866-782-3014. Clinics are available from October through December. It's very important to sign-up early to ensure the best date for your school's calendar.

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Join the PTA Reader Panel—share opinions, ideas and comments. Email readerpanel@pta.org.

Not a PTA member yet? Join today and help your school help your child!