1. A to Z
• ISLAM
• AR C H ITEC TURE
Jacqueline Acosta
• ART • J E W IS H
jacosta68@dadeschools.net
• LITERATURE
• ASTRONOMY
Language Arts Department Chair
• METAPHYSICS
• A T T H E M O V I ES
HGMS
• AUDIO BOOKS • MILITARY
• MUSIC
• B IO G R AP H Y
• B OO K C LU B P I C K S • MYSTERY
Christine Rodriguez
• B U S I N ES S • N E W AR R I V ALS
crodriguez14@dadeschools.net
• PHIL OS OPHY
• CHILDREN’S
Language Arts Department Chair
• CHRISTIANITY • P H O T O GR A P H Y
HGHS
• C O M PU T E RS • POETRY
• P O L IT I C S
• COO K ING
• C R A FT S • PSYC HOLO GY
Carmen S. Concepcion
• C U R R E N T AF F A I R S • REFERENCE
cconcepcion@dadeschools.net
• R E L IG IO N
• L AN G U AG E S
Reading Coach
• GARDENING • R O M AN C E
HGMS
• SCIENCE FICTION
• G L O B A L WR I T I N G
HGHS
• SELF HELP
• G R A P H I C N OV E L S
• HEALTH/MEDICINE • SMALL PRESS
• S P O RT S / F I T N E S S
• HISTORY
• TRAVEL
• HUMOR
• WRITING

2. Suggestions for Promoting Suggestions for Helping Readers Gain Confidence
Literacy in Your Family Time and time again, we hear of the importance that good reading skills play in the lives of
children as they become young adults, set their goals, and achieve. It's never too late to
1. Motivate your children through personal ex- help your child gain confidence in his or her abilities as a reader. What better way to enjoy
ample. Set aside time for turning off the TV and
time with each other and help to build much needed self-esteem!
reading and/or studying on a regular basis. Read
the newspaper or a magazine.
Let Your Mind Wander...
2. Encourage a strong vocabulary. Talk together
as a family and try learning new words each
day/week. Make it a game: everyone could be
assigned to find a new word in the dictionary and
report on it to the family.
Suggestions to help your reader
3. Be a good listener. Encourage your children to achieve confidence
explain or talk about what they are reading.
Simple Ideas to Promote Reading
1. Find an interest: Get your child to talk to you
4. Allow your children to subscribe to magazines
about his or her interests or hobbies. Let your
in their interest areas. Magazine subscriptions Have a light by your child's bed. Allow the child
child teach YOU about a particular topic. Locate
make wonderful gifts from family and friends. to stay up for an extra half-hour each evening if
they are in bed and reading. No TV, comput-
a good book on the topic.
5. Play games such as Scrabble, Hangman,
ers, or phone messages would be allowed dur-
Clue, or Word Bingo. The entire family will bene-
ing this time. It's an outstanding way to assist
2. Make a book: Suggest that the two of you
fit from increased literacy and critical thinking
your child in calming down after a busy day and
make a book together. As publishing is a huge
skills.
to encourage reading as well.
motivator for our children, the actual quot;creationquot;
6. If you have access to a computer, encourage
will give a great sense of achievement.
your children to research interests over the Inter- Make sure each child has a library card and that
net. they have the opportunity to use it frequently.
3. Research: Spend time together at the library
7. Using computer e-mail with family and friends or on the Internet locating information about a
Provide a quiet area with a desk and all the ma-
encourages children to both read and write. particular subject. Use a tape recorder for
terials necessary (pencils, pens, stapler, paper,
quot;talking notesquot; and pencil and paper for written
8. Encourage the use of daily journal writing. It etc.) for reading and doing homework.
ones.
allows for reflection and increased reading and
writing skills.
4. Use the computer: Let your child experiment
9. Help your child set goals such as reading a set
with different fonts and layouts so that he or she
number of books per month. Keep track of them
in a reading log. can ultimately achieve the look desired.
10. Visit the library regularly. Help your children
locate books. Allow plenty of time to browse the 9. Illustrate: It is common for many children to
you cannot open
books and magazines, the software in the com- illustrate their thoughts and ideas more easily
puter section, the talking books, and the videos. than writing them. Allow space in the book for
a book without
11. If your child spends time in the car with you continual illustrations. If a student feels he or
or is already a driver, try books on tape. she is not good enough to draw, there's always
learning something
the choice of making collages (using pictures
12. Start a family library so that favorite books
can be enjoyed again and again. Take advan- and words from magazines).
tage of less expensive paperback copies, swap
books with friends, or visit used book stores tok
enlarge your library.
14. Talk about what you are reading and invite
your children to do the same.