Play! Sing! Talk! Read! Write! Gadsden: June 2015

Drop Everything And Read

Reading is important. Today’s society is based on effective reading skills. The ability to be a good citizen, to acquire knowledge and make sound decisions are all predicated on one’s ability to read, and read well. Even amidst the social media craze, the key to being effective, being liked, and being followed is the readability of the posts. Words emit a response, rather good or bad, positive or negative. We connect with family and friends, our past and our futures with words. They are everywhere we are and even in places devoid of sound or light, words exist.

From the beginning of time, writing existed in order to pass history from one civilization’s generation to the next. It is important to recognize that writing need not include “letters”. Hieroglyphics or pictorials were found in ancient times and used to retain histories of the people and tell their stories. Therefore, reading is more than fundamental, it is a necessity, akin to water and air, especially as we navigate the 21^st century. We have always known that knowledge is power, but the method for acquiring knowledge has not always been made clear to our youth. Reading is critical to acquiring knowledge and moving from nowhere to somewhere. It is becoming increasingly evident that the ability to read and apply critical thinking skills to that which was read will determine and continue to separate the haves and the haves not.

Knowledge = Power

Ensuring that your children can read may be the difference between life and death, success and despair – yes, it’s that urgent. Thus, incorporating reading strategies and activities into your daily routine of playing, writing, listening, making, and grooving to music, and talking are integral to your child’s success and survival.

Activity

Shop till You Drop

Shopping for groceries is just one of many daily routines that you can use to help your child learn. Shopping is especially good for teaching your child new words and for introducing him to new people and places.

What You Need

Grocery shopping list

What to Do

1. Pick a time when neither you nor your child is hungry or tired.

2. At the grocery store, put your child in the grocery cart so that he faces you. Take your time as you walk up and down the aisles.

3. Let your child feel the items that you buy — a cold carton of milk, for example or the skin of an orange. Talk to your child about the items: "The skin of the orange is rough and bumpy. Here, you feel it."

4. Be sure to name the objects that you see on shelves and talk about what you are seeing and doing: "First, we're going to buy some cereal. See, it's in a big red and blue box. Listen to the great noise it makes when I shake the box. Can you shake the box? Now we're going to pay for the groceries. We'll put them on the counter while I get out the money. The cashier will tell us how much we have to pay."

5. Encourage your child to practice saying "hi" and "bye-bye" to clerks and other shoppers.

6. Leave for home before your child gets tired or grumpy.

More activities can be found at www.readingrockets.org