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How to Stop Literacy Loss over the Summer
As children’s first and most important teachers, families have a major role to play in motivating children to read during the summer months. According to the nonprofit organization Reading is Fundamental, there are many strategies families might employ to encourage summertime reading.
 Combine activities with books
Summer leaves lots of time for kids to enjoy fun activities, such as going to the beach or seeing a movie. Why not also encourage them to read a book about the activity? If you're going to a baseball game, suggest that your child read a book about a favorite player beforehand. In the car or over a hot dog, you’ll have lots of time to talk about the book and the game.
Lead by example
Read the newspaper at breakfast, pick up a magazine at the pediatrician’s office, or stuff a paperback into your beach bag. If kids see the adults around them reading, they will understand that books and other reading material can be a fun and important part of their summer days.
Talk it up
Talking with your kids about what you have read also lets them know that reading is an important part of your life. Tell them why you liked a book, what you learned from it, or how it helped you. Soon they might start doing the same.
Help kids find time to read
Summer camp, baseball games, and videos are all fun things kids like to do during the summer. However, by the end of the day, children may be too tired to pick up a book. Remember to leave some time in their schedules for reading, such as before bedtime or over breakfast.
Relax the rules for summer
During the school year, children have busy schedules and often have required reading for classes. Summer is a time when children can read what, when, and how they please. Don’t set daily minute requirements or determine the number of pages they should read. Instead, make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own.
Have plenty of reading material around
Storybooks aren’t the only thing that kids can read for fun. Be sure to have newspapers, magazines, and informational material on hand that might spark the interest of a young reader.
Use books to break the boredom
Without the regular school regimen, adults and kids need more activities to fill the hours. Books that teach kids how to make or do something are a great way to get kids reading and keep them occupied.
Read aloud with kids
Take your children to see a local storyteller—or be one yourself. The summer months leave extra time for enthusiastic read-alouds with children, no matter their age. Don’t forget to improvise different voices or wear a silly hat to make the story that much more interesting!
Reprinted with permission from Reading is Fundamental (rif.org).
 PTA Offers Tipsheets on Bullying Prevention
National PTA recently launched a campaign called Connect for Respect, an initiative to encourage PTAs to hold conversations in their communities on bullying prevention. To support PTAs in their work, National PTA has created five tip sheets to help parents understand bullying, know where to go if there is an issue, or what to do if their child is a bully. In addition, a mini-toolkit has been created to help PTAs plan their own Connect for Respect event. Through this initiative, parents can do more to help stop the destructive cycle of bullying in their communities. Check out PTA.org/bullying for more info.
Support the Family Engagement in Education Act
On May 10, National PTA’s strong efforts to make family engagement a federal priority paid off: The Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R.1821/S.941) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The bill provides incentives to schools and districts to engage families meaningfully to improve student achievement. Research demonstrates that family engagement in a child’s education increases student achievement, improves attendance, and reduces the dropout rate. To learn more about the act and how you can support it, go to PTA.org/FEEA.
National PTA Partners with the Military Child Education Coalition
In response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, National PTA and the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) recently announced a partnership to engage military families and support the more than 1 million grade-school-age military children. The partnership will work to build connections between military and civilian parents and students through programs and activities in school districts with a large military presence. Read the media release for more information.
National Reflections Winners Announced
National PTA announces the 2011 Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Award winners in six arts categories, as well as almost 200 Reflections Awards of Excellence and Merit.
$20,000 Grant Available for Schools
Parenting magazine launched its Mom Congress School Transformation Grant Contest, which will award one needy school a $20,000 grant to provide educational resources. Entries can be submitted at Parenting.com/MomCongress. Entries require a photo or video of the nominated school. In addition, the entry must include a 200-word essay detailing how the school would use the grant money.
Visitors to Parenting.com/MomCongress will be able to view each entry and vote for the school they feel is most deserving. The school with the most votes by September 30 will win the $20,000 grant courtesy of Parenting. The winner will be announced this fall.
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