DONNA RANSDELL spoke of Spelling By Routman to DAN TRIPLETT on 11-06-96
DR> > programs yet.  I do send home a Read-Aloud sheet that
DR> > parent and child
DR> > fill out with the names of the books they read
DR> > together for that month.
DR> 
DR>Can I speak as a parent here, Dan (rather than from the teacher side
DR>of me)?  As a parent, I was asked to do this when my youngest was in
DR>1st grade. I  *hated* it. It was so time-consuming - sometimes it
DR>took me longer to gather  up the books we'd read together than it did
DR>to read them. I also felt that  nothing happened with the list
DR>anyway, making my efforts (to write them down)  a waste of time.
In the 8 years that I have been doing monthly "Read Aloud" I have had 
only one parent say they didn't like doing it.  I have had many others 
thank me for the program.  It would be easier for me if I did nothing 
because then I wouldn't have to prepare the send-home-sheets or write 
out monthly certificates.  
I'm a bit confused by your post.  You say it was "time-consuming" to 
gather up books.  Didn't you read to your children every night when they 
were young?  Seems to me one trip to the library to gather up books 
isn't a bad idea.  I think going to the library with a child once a 
*week* to choose books is a great idea.  Many people have oodles of 
books in their homes.  In our home we read to the children every night.  
I think all can agree on the importance reading to our children plays on 
literacy development.  Reading to one's child is a great bonding time 
and can help develop a love of reading.  My "Read Aloud" program 
attempts to encourage parents to read to their children at home because 
as an early childhood teacher I understand the importance of reading to 
children.  Then I ask parents to write the titles of the books they read 
down on the sheet provided.  Some read only a few books in a month; some 
read several a day.  The same books can be read over and over (a good 
idea for young children if they like those books).  Even if a child only 
records one book I award them a certificate.  
When the children bring back their "Read Aloud" sheets I prepare a 
certificate.  The reading certificates are ones I purchased and are very 
colorful.  Then when I award certificates I first read the list of books 
on each Read Aloud sheet.  I write down the names of books from each 
child's list I think our class may like and I go to the library and get 
those books.  When I read a book in class that a child has had read to 
them at home I get an excited response from that child.  I acknowledge 
that the book title came from the child's list. 
The children are very excited about this program.  They love getting the 
certificates.  I have made it so easy for parents.  Only one book a 
month is required for a child to get awarded a certificate.  I encourage 
a book a day.  This seems like such a great idea to me I can't 
understand why people wouldn't like it.  Of course, one does have the 
option of not participating.  Does this sound good to you?  Hope this 
explanation clarifies things.
  
DR> 
DR>The following year (in 2nd grade), I had to keep track of the numbers
DR>of  minutes that I read aloud to my daughter/s, and then at the end
DR>of the month  tally them up. I found that *much* easier - and I
DR>didn't have to write down  all those titles!
My students can even write down the titles (they copied them on the 
sheet).  Anyone at home can read to the child and record a book title.  
If done every day as a nightly routine it is not that much to ask of 
parents.  Post the Read Aloud by the bed and read a couple of books, 
write the titles and that's all there is to it.  Seems very easy to me.  
And it is so good for your children!
 
DR>I'd like to hear about other reading incentives for kids, besides the
DR>above  two ideas and book reports. My kids' school has gotten "stuck"
DR>on "RAD  READING" for the past few years for K-4. This involves
DR>keeping track of the  books read (ugh) or the minutes (better). Then
DR>they sit thru a half-hour  assembly and get rewarded with a pencil or
DR>some such thing. (boring....the  assembly, not the pencil....)
DR> 
DR>Ideas, anyone????? I'd love to send some new ideas to the PTA for 
DR>scrutiny.....
I would like to hear other ideas as well.  Perhaps Donna, you have an 
idea that you think would be a good one.  If I find something I like 
better I'd probably adopt it.  How does a teacher encourage parents to 
read to their children at home.  How do we as teachers stress the 
importance of reading routinely to children?  Perhaps there are those 
here who don't think that reading to a child is all that essential.  (I 
shudder to think).    
Dan
--- GEcho 1.11+
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