Powerful Role of Parents

1. Check out this website: http://www.rootsoflearning.com/

It's all about the powerful role of parents. Some of you might find it helpful to share with the parents of your students.

2. Check out the "movement" created by Veda Jairrels, the author of African Americans and Standardized Tests: The Real Reason for Low Test Scores, which seeks to explain the hardships non-readers (or students who are alliterate) face in middle and high school. (Book Review and application provided here.)

She writes, "As a result of my book, I’ve also started “The 2000 Book Movement.” The 3 goals of The Movement are as follows:

1. All children will have had read to them or read for themselves, at least 2000 books by the time they reach 6 years of age. If parents read at least one different short book every day starting from birth, they will easily surpass the goal of 2000 books. Parents can use the library to obtain books.

2. Infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) will hear 30,000 words per day from parents, relatives, and caregivers. You simply talk to them about anything. This recommendation is based on the research of Hart and Risley (1995; 2006). They (and other researchers as well) have found that infants and toddlers who heard the 30,000 words per day had higher IQ scores and standardized test scores than the children who had heard far fewer words. Obviously, when you read to your children, you also talk to your children. It does not appear that listening to television has the same effect.

3. Older children who can read for themselves should engage in pleasure reading for at least 30 minutes each day. By pleasure reading, I mean allowing children to read on any topics (with parental supervision) that interest them. Children should be encouraged to read challenging new material.

Please spread the word about The 2000 Book Movement. Join The Movement on Facebook."