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The key to raising successful readers ultimately relies on the foundation that we, as parents, construct for our children. Reading is essential in all subject areas, and indeed in every aspect of our lives. Many of NCLR’s education programs are geared toward helping parents become more involved in fostering their children’s literacy.
The reading ability of a student depends on factors such as word knowledge, enunciation, and comprehension, which, when mastered, develop critical thinking skills. Students develop critical thinking skills by reflecting on and evaluating their conscious understanding of the meaning and significance of what is observed or expressed, giving them the ability to determine whether there is adequate justification to accept a conclusion as true. Critical thinking establishes a process of reflecting on the meaning of statements, examining the reasoning and evidence, and forming judgments about the facts.
Some of the benefits your child will reap through reading include:
- An expanded vocabulary
- An understanding of how writers develop and express their ideas, which helps the students themselves develop better writing skills
- Skills for handling complex ideas
- Improved scores on college entrance exams, which test all of the skills listed above
- A more well-rounded perspective as they learn about people and the world outside of their own existence
Although encouraging children of all ages to read at home might seem difficult at times, here are some ways your child can become fully invested in reading:
- Accompany your kids to the neighborhood library regularly
- Find books that interest your child
- Let your child help you map out a route to a destination
- Search for garage sales or bargain bookstores to find economically friendly new and used books
- Attend the library story hours with young children
- Establish a consistent family reading hour
- Accompany your child to the school book fair
- Encourage children to watch educational programs, and sit with them to ask questions about what they saw to prepare them for comprehensive reading
Reading is one of the most important lifelong skills and should be nurtured daily for sustainability. Your child’s relationship with reading will ultimately determine their success in life and career. Be proactive! Learn what the reading standards are for your child’s grade level, be involved in their daily reading activities, and finally, embrace your role in developing an accelerated reader. Reading comprehension prepares Latino children to be the leaders of tomorrow and NCLR works hard every day through our various education programs to make that happen.