Students Who Read Succeed

[Dr. Stephen Jones]

In this age that offers an explosion of technology reading skills is still one sound way to help children to succeed in school. Too often parents set children in front of a television or computer when they have not learned some of the essential reading skills. Once students obtain a joy of reading they are like a sponge absorbing all of the knowledge that they can. It time to dust of the books in your home and share them with children who have no books in their homes. Every home should have hundreds of books for children to enjoy. Some children will go back and read a book four or five times. The school administrators, teachers and school counselors can share books from their homes. How can you contribute to this effort?

[Beverly Capley]

My students completed memoirs and took them to two different elementary schools. My students were paired with first and second graders. They read their memoirs to the children and talked with them about reading and writing. It was very successful! Many of my students have trouble reading, and this cross-age tutoring has helped them build more confidence in my reading strategies class. We are going back to the same schools and classes next semester. My students will read a book to their student and have an activity that goes along with the book. We are looking forward to this!

[Scott Habeeb]

Beverly - sounds like a great idea. Be sure to post and let us know how it goes. Include any pointers you might have for other teachers who would like to try the same thing. You might consider replying to this post with that information or even going ahead and adding an entirely new blog post.

[Beverly Capley]

My ninth grade students are going to an elementary school to read to first graders. I will let you know how it turns out!

[Dr. Stephen Jones]

Maybe the students could go to the elementary schools and read to the children. Then they could have a discussion with elementary school children about the book and then turn the books over to the school.

[Scott Habeeb]

I wonder if teachers of freshmen might try a service project where their students collect books to share with others (elementary schools, Rescue Mission, Goodwill, nursing homes, etc.)? It could be a good way to impress upon students the importance of reading without having to just lecture to them about it. Instead, they would be learning by doing and by participating. Perhaps as they worked to share books with others they would think about the role of reading in their own lives.