William Penn Life, 2005 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-07-01 / 7. szám
Readin A cure for your kids’ summertime blahs 'rr"Summer is a fun time for kids, but parents need to make sure their children’s reading skills don’t fade by Mary Ann Kelly-Lovasz Its summertime and the living is certainly easy for kids, up until the time parents and caregivers hear the complaint of: "I'm bored. There's nothing to do!" After the millionth jump on the backyard trampoline and when Nickelodeon becomes stale, there's the tried and true activity that never fails to please; plus it's really good for kids of all ages. It's reading. As the school year winds down it brings a release for all children to do as they please during the summer months. But summer is also the time when their skills can fade. Reading specialist Dr. Toni Saul of Acmetonia Primary School in Cheswick, Pa., explains this in a way we can all relate to: "Let's say during the summer months you'd park a car in June and not touch it until August. It would start, but it would be bumpy," she said. Kids essentially "park their brains" during the summer, she said. Going back to that parked car, if you were to keep it idling instead, it would be ready to go in the fall— just like your kids would, if they kept their brains active. Gregory Heavner, principal at Acmetonia Primary and a member of WPA Branch 296 Springdale, Pa., agrees with Dr. Saul. You've got to engage your kids to keep them thinking during those long summer days. Take every opportunity available, such as looking at vacation or summer camp brochures to get your child to read. Parents get caught up in "directional" types of conversations with their kids, such as telling them to clean their rooms or to brush their teeth. Involving them in "non-directional" types of conversation, such as asking for their input from the vacation brochures or about whatever they've read recently, is valuable for both you as a parent and for your child. Heavner recalled a time when his young son discovered a snake in their garage and called him to see it. With the discovery of that snake, Heavner used this as an opportunity to find a book about snakes native to Pennsylvania to read and discuss with his son. Viewing everything as an opportunity to incorporate reading to and with your child cannot be stressed enough by both Heavner and Saul. "The very best way to grow as readers and writers is to read," Saul said. "You'll get the biggest bang for your buck in comprehension and fluency by reading at least 15 to 20 minutes a day, more than parents realize." The Allegheny Valley School District, where Acmetonia Primary is located, proudly sponsors the S.T.A.R. reader program. S.T.A.R. is an acronym 4 William Penn Life, July 2005
