How Summer Can Make or Break a Child's Academic Future- What are YOU reading this summer?
It may come as no surprise that students living in economically struggling households enter school facing an uphill battle as compared to their more affluent peers. While teachers and principals work tirelessly to close this socio-economic achievement gap during the school year, children who lack access to books or meaningful learning opportunities during the months when school is no longer in session experience a decline in reading skill levels. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "summer slide" and is extremely impactful for children in low-income households and those learning English.
A 15-Minute Prescription for Boosting Literacy Rates
While there is no vaccination against low literacy when a child is born, there is substantial research on the need for this vital prescription to be issued to families:
Read aloud 15 minutes every day with your child.
Research shows that reading aloud is the single most important activity parents, grandparents, childcare providers, teachers and other caring adults can engage in with a child to develop critical, early language and foundational skills for learning how to read.
Reading aloud also stimulates brain activity. During the first three years of life, a child's brain makes trillions of connections, the fastest it will ever grow. Unfortunately, fewer than half of children age five and under nationally are read to aloud each day.
Learn more about important research behind the importance of reading aloud and help us spread the word during National Read Aloud month. Also, check out additional resources on our website at http://www.bushhoustonliteracy.org
Students who do not read proficiently by the 3rd grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma. Low-literate parents often are unable to provide a stimulating learning environment for the children. This inequality in opportunity leads to an achievement gap that extends through elementary school and beyond.
While there is no vaccination against low literacy when a child is born, there is substantial research on the need for this vital prescription to be issued to families:
Read aloud 15 minutes every day with your child.
Research shows that reading aloud is the single most important activity parents, grandparents, childcare providers, teachers and other caring adults can engage in with a child to develop critical, early language and foundational skills for learning how to read.
Reading aloud also stimulates brain activity. During the first three years of life, a child's brain makes trillions of connections, the fastest it will ever grow. Unfortunately, fewer than half of children age five and under nationally are read to aloud each day.
Learn more about important research behind the importance of reading aloud and help us spread the word during National Read Aloud month. Also, check out additional resources on our website at http://www.bushhoustonliteracy.org
Students who do not read proficiently by the 3rd grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma. Low-literate parents often are unable to provide a stimulating learning environment for the children. This inequality in opportunity leads to an achievement gap that extends through elementary school and beyond.
