NOVEMBER READING ACTIVITY SHEET.

THE READING BILL OF RIGHTS

A child's right to read....

Today we live in a world full of digital information. Yet reading has never been more important, for we know that for young people the ability to read is the door opener to the 21st century: to hold a job, to understand their world, and to know themselves. That is why we are asking you to join our Global Literacy Call to Action: We call this campaign: “Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life.” We are asking parents, teachers, school and business leaders, and the general public to support their children’s right to read for a better life in the digital world of the 21st century.

Here is what we believe about reading in the second decade of the 21st century.
We call this The Reading Bill of Rights:

WE BELIEVE that literacy – the ability to read, write and understand – is the birthright of every child in the world as well as the pathway to succeed in school and to realize a complete life. Young people need to read nonfiction for information to understand their world, and literature for imagination to understand themselves.

WE BELIEVE that the massive amounts of digital information and images now transmitted daily make it even more important for a young person to know how to analyze, interpret and understand information, to separate fact from opinion, and to have deep respect for logical thinking.

WE BELIEVE that literature and drama, whether on printed pages, screens, on stage or film, help young people experience the great stories of emotion and action, leading to a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly human. Without this literacy heritage, life lacks meaning, coherence and soul.

WE BELIEVE every child has a right to a “textual lineage” – a reading and writing autobiography which shows that who you are is in part developed through the stories and information you’ve experienced. This textual lineage will enable all young people to have a reading and writing identity which helps them understand who they are and how they can make their lives better. In short, “You Are What You Read.”

WE BELIEVE every child should have access to books, magazines, newspapers, computers, e-readers, and text on phones. Whatever way you read, you will need to figure out what the facts are or what the story tells you. No matter how and where you get access to ideas, you will need the skills of reading to understand yourself and your world.

WE BELIEVE that reading widely and reading fluently will give children the reading stamina to deal with more challenging texts they will meet in college, at work and in everyday life. And every child should be able to choose and own the books they want to read, for that choice builds literacy confidence – the ability to read, write and speak about what they know, what they feel, and who they are.

WE BELIEVE that every child has the right to a great teacher who will help them learn to read and love to read. Children need teachers who provide intentional, focused instruction to give young people the skills to read and interpret information or understand great stories they will encounter throughout life.

WE BELIEVE that in the 21st century, the ability to read is necessary not only to succeed but to survive—for the ability to understand information and the power of stories is the key to a life of purpose and meaning.

Courtesy Scholastic @ http://www.scholastic.com/.

Bedtime Reading with Children Starting To Read by Themselves.

Sharing a story at bedtime is a chance for you and your child to relax and enjoy a special moment together. Children will benefit immensely if you read aloud with them, even once they have started to read themselves. They will learn new words that are beyond their reading ability and will love the time you spend with them. Try to read the books brought home from school and maybe borrow some from the library.

Make it something to look forward to – and remember to have fun!

What books should I choose?

• Share books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition – hearing rhyming words will encourage them to join in. Let a child say words out loud and leave space in the story for them to fill in.
• If your child brings a reading book home from school, encourage them to share their book with you first, so that you can help with any words they find difficult.
• Involve your child by letting them choose the book - don’t worry if you think it’s too young!
• You can sometimes limit the choice, so that you get a bit of variety too!
• Start to share exciting books with chapters – continue reading aloud even when they can read by themselves as this helps them learn new words.
• Children love to revisit stories they enjoyed when they were younger. This is a sure sign that they have enjoyed you reading aloud to them and they may have a go at reading some of them to you.

Where should we read?

• You don’t have to be in bed as long as you can cuddle up together. Being physically close is still important as children get older. Try to make sure there aren’t any distractions — best to switch off the TV.

How do I go about it?

• Share fiction books, poetry and books about things that excite them like trains, diggers, fairies. Point to the pictures and talk about them.
• You don’t always have to ‘read’ a book. Pictures are very important and help to tell the story.
• Point to the pictures and talk about them. Discussing the book encourages your child to become the story teller. Try asking questions like: ‘Can you tell me what happened to …’ ‘What do you think will happen next?’ ‘How do you think she feels about that?’ ‘Tell me what’s happening in this picture….’
• Let them ask questions - it’s a great way for children to learn to understand what’s happening in a story – an essential part of learning to read.

It’s great to relate a story to real life: ‘Do you remember when we saw a dog like that…?’

What else could I do?

• Try telling a story. Children love old classics like fairy tales, or you could make one up together.
• If a child keeps asking you to read the same book again and again, celebrate! You have a child who loves books and who is on the way to becoming an enthusiastic reader.

OCTOBER READING GUIDE

Top Tips For Bedtime Reading With Babies

Sharing a story at bedtime is a chance for you and your baby to relax and enjoy a special moment together. As part of a bedtime routine they will love to cuddle and hear your voice and will know that it’s time to wind down ready for sleep. Just ten minutes a day will help you bond and also greatly help their development.

Make it something to look forward to – and enjoy this time together!

What books should I choose?

• Choose bright and touchy-feely books with different textures and colours. Encourage your baby to touch the book as you read and talk about the pictures – they’ll like the look and feel of it. At this stage babies enjoy play­ing with their books!

• Choose books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition – hearing rhyming words will help them later when they learn to read. Say the words a little more slowly than you usually talk to help your baby hear the sounds you are making.

Where should we read?

• Why not start at bathtime? Share bath books and rhymes together – try Row Row Your Boat, 5 Little Ducks or make one up about splashing.

• Snuggle up together, somewhere cosy. It doesn’t have to be in bed and it’s best to switch off the TV.

How do I go about it?

• Read your baby’s favourite books over and over again. Try to use funny voices and make silly noises. Your child loves the sound of your voice so don’t worry and enjoy it together.

• Singing or saying rhymes to your baby is another great way to end the day and will sooth your baby for a great night’s sleep. Why not try Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – a great favourite.

What else could I do?

• You don’t always have to ‘read’ a book. Pictures are also very important and help to tell the story. Ask questions about the pictures or the characters, like ‘Can you see the cow?’ ‘Does the bear look tired?’ At this age you’ll be giving the answers yourself but you will be helping your baby to learn lots of new words.

20 Ways to Encourage Reading

1. Scout for things your children might like to read. Use their interests and hobbies as starting points.
2. Leave all sorts of reading materials including books, magazines, and colorful catalogs in conspicuous places around your home.
3. Notice what attracts your children's attention, even if they only look at the pictures. Then build on that interest; read a short selection aloud, or simply bring home more information on the same subject.
4. Let your children see you reading for pleasure in your spare time.
5. Take your children to the library regularly. Explore the children's section together. Ask a librarian to suggest books and magazines your children might enjoy.
6. Present reading as an activity with a purpose; a way to gather useful information for, say, making paper airplanes, identifying a doll or stamp in your child's collection, or planning a family trip.
7. Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters. Older children enjoy showing off their skills to an admiring audience.
8. Play games that are reading-related. Check your closet for spelling games played with letter tiles or dice, or board games that require players to read spaces, cards, and directions.
9. Perhaps over dinner, while you're running errands, or in another informal setting, share your reactions to things you read, and encourage your children to do likewise.
10. Set aside a regular time for reading in your family, independent of schoolwork, the 20 minutes before lights out, just after dinner, or whatever fits into your household schedule. As little as 10 minutes of free reading a day can help improve your child's skills and habits.
11. Read aloud to your child, especially a child who is discouraged by his or her own poor reading skills. The pleasure of listening to you read, rather than struggling alone, may restore your child's initial enthusiasm for books and reading.
12. Encourage your child to read aloud to you an exciting passage in a book, an interesting tidbit in the newspaper, or a joke in a joke book. When children read aloud, don't feel they have to get every word right. Even good readers skip or mispronounce words now and then.
13. On gift-giving occasions, give books and magazines based on your child's current interests.
14. Set aside a special place for children to keep their own books.
15. Introduce the bookmark. Remind your youngster that you don't have to finish a book in one sitting; you can stop after a few pages, or a chapter, and pick up where you left off at another time. Don't try to persuade your child to finish a book he or she doesn't like. Recommend putting the book aside and trying another.
16. Treat your children to an evening of laughter and entertainment featuring books! Many children (parents, too) regard reading as a serious activity. A joke book, a story told in riddles, or a funny passage read aloud can reveal another side of reading.
17. Extend your child's positive reading experiences. For example, if your youngster enjoyed a book about dinosaurs, follow up with a visit to a natural history museum.
18. Offer other special incentives to encourage your child's reading. Allow your youngster to stay up an extra 15 minutes to finish a chapter; promise to take your child to see a movie after he or she has finished the book on which it was based; relieve your child of a regular chore to free up time for reading.
19. Limit your children's TV viewing in an effort to make time for other activities, such as reading. But never use TV as a reward for reading, or a punishment for not reading.
20. Not all reading takes place between the covers of a book. What about menus, road signs, food labels, and sheet music? Take advantage of countless spur-of-the-moment opportunities for reading during the course of your family's busy day.


Source: RIF Parent Guide.

Tips For Choosing Good Books.

Children’s reading interests and needs change as they grow.

Here are some basic things to look for as you help kids choose good books.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS (BIRTH TO AGE 2)

• Books with big, bright, colorful pictures of familiar objects.
• Durable books made of cardboard,plastic, or washable cloth. These books are usually a good size and shape for small children to handle.
• Books that appeal to their senses, suchas fabric books, books with textures, and books with scents. Stories told in short, simple sentences with pictures that explain the text.
• Poems and rhymesthat are fun forparents to read aloud.

PRESCHOOLERS (AGES 3 TO 5)

• Illustrations and photos that are clear, colorful, and engaging.
• Simple, fun plots. The action should move quickly, so each book can be read in one sitting.
• Lively rhymes and repetition that childrencan repeat and remember.
• Stories about everyday life and events.The stories should encourage childrento ask questions and explore their world.
• Stories that review basic concepts, such as letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.
• Main characters who are your child’s age or slightly older.Playful animals, both real andimaginary, willalso hold a child’s attention.

YOUNG READERS (AGES 6 TO 11)

• Clear text that is easy to read.
• Colorful, attractive illustrations and photosthat bring the text to life and give cluesto the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Books that appeal to your child’s interests.
• “How-to,” craft, and recipe books with clear, simply worded instructions and helpful illustrations.
• Other books by your child’s favorite authors and illustrators.
• Books with your child’s favorite characters.
• Stories your child enjoyed hearing when he or she was younger. These are great books for children to begin reading on their own.
• Books that encourage discussion.
• Chapter books that can be read over several days instead of in one sitting.

ADOLESCENTS (AGES 12 AND UP)

• Books about subjects that interestyour child.
• Novels that might help your child cope with daily challenges of growing up by featuring characters dealingwith similar experiences.
• Books that introduce new experiences and opportunities.
• Fact books, such as world recordbooks, trivia books, and almanacs.
• Biographies, classics, folk tales, historical fiction, and mythology.

Quick Tip!
Knowing how to choose good books is a skill your children will keep for the rest of their lives. Take time to show them how. Encourage them to select books on their own as soon as they show preferences.

SEPTEMBER READNG CALENDAR

Print this and give to a child today and help make a difference.

READING Tips For Your Family

When reading with your child, every story can be an exciting and fun learning opportunity! Here are some tips to make it happen:

• ESTABLISH A ROUTINE Pick a convenient time to read with your child each day. Many families find bedtime ideal. Other times may include after a meal, in the tub or after school. Keep a book with you while you're out of the house in case you have to wait somewhere with your child. Try to read to your child at least once a day.
• READ BOOKS YOUR CHILD LIKES Children are more likely to enjoy being read to when they know the story or are captivated by the topic.
• Talk about the pictures, ask questions about the story. Children often miss subtleties of books. Ask interpretive, open-ended questions like, “Why do you think she feels angry?”
  
• READ EVERYTHING! STOP, EXIT, etc.


• MODEL WRITING FOR YOUR CHILD Let your child “write” and have your child “read” it back to you.

THE FIGURES SAY IT ALL...

FACTS
80% of low-income families in Nigeria have no books in their homes for their children.
43% of adults with the lowest level of literacy proficiency live in poverty.
Only 4% of adults with strong literacy skills live in poverty.
55% of children have an increased interest in reading when given books at an early age.

Children with a greater variety of reading material in the home are more creative, imaginative, and proficient in reading. They are also on a better path toward educational growth and development.


There is only 1 age-appropriate book for every 500 children in low-income neighborhoods compared to 13 books per child in middle-income neighborhoods.


Having access to books is the key to literacy, yet the majority of children in low-income neighborhoods often lack libraries and bookstores. By donating your books, especially children’s books, you can impact some of the 40 million children who don’t have books at home. Otherwise, these children simply won’t learn to read. Imagine if you couldn’t read this note.

READING ACTIVITY CALENDAR: August

Feel free to use our Reading Activity Calendar for August to help children along in their reading habits.


AUGUST