|
|
|
The views expressed on this page are soley
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
|
 |
Greenville
City Schools – Reading Matters
By Laura Bemus
Assistant Superintendent
Like developing anything important, building better students requires
providing the right environment. School is filled with teachers, staff,
and materials that serve the purpose of encouraging students to learn.
Frequently the question is asked by parents, grandparents and community
members, “What can we do we do outside of the classroom to encourage
learning?”
Having books at home encourages students to spend time reading, and
learning. Richard Allington, author of Summer Reading: Closing the
Rich/Poor Achievement Gap, states that a handful of self-selected books
could have a dramatic impact on a child’s learning over time.
In a multi-year study, Dr. Allington discovered that just adding 12
self-selected books to a home every summer can have the same learning
impact that summer school offers. When books are convenient, it is more
likely those books will be used by the students and parents. It creates
a home environment that shows that reading is encouraged, especially
when there are books within easy reach at all times.
Greenville City Schools have programs in place to give students
continuous access to books and to help families develop home libraries,
so students have easy access to books at all times, even when school is
not in session. We have an annual Family Reading Night. This year it is
scheduled for May 7th at Greenville Elementary School. It is the night
that we kick off summer reading and provide books to students to
encourage reading and having access to books at home. The PTA and
community partner with the school district to make this event a
successful night with nearly 100% participation.
Here are some reasons having access to books is important:
• Topics of their choosing – Everyone is more likely to read books
about topics that interest them. Teachers and parents work together to
build a home library of books that will encourage children to read not
only through the summer but also during the school year.
• Familiarity with the material – Children enjoy things that are
familiar. They love their favorite toys and clothes. That same love of
the familiar can apply to books, especially a favorite character in a
series. A beloved character can expose them to new vocabulary over the
course of that series, elevating their understanding of the language.
• Builds family literacy – Reading can be contagious. Once a family
member develops a passion for reading, it can spread to siblings and
others in the home. This has a multiplying effect of bringing more
books into the home, creating a virtuous cycle of overall improved
literacy for the family.
• Improved academic performance – Research shows that more books in the
home leads to greater academic performance. Owning 500 books can add
3.2 years of educational gains over time, according to Research in
Social Stratification and Mobility. Even the addition of one book can
have an impact on educational gains.
As families get ready for Kindergarten registration (April 2-4 at
Greenville Elementary School), during days off of school, including
snow days, summer and weekends, reading is the most important way to
help students be successful for school and their future.
|
|
|
|
