Have you got 10 minutes a day to make a difference?

I am reading an amazing book, The Read-Aloud Handbook. I heartily recommend it for all parents, teachers and homeschoolers. In addition to stressing the value of reading orally to your children, (I wrote about this on a previous blog - look it up!) this book stress the importance of encouraging your child to read silently 10 minutes per day. Here's the kicker~ you should read silently aside your child. Why? What do you think it teaches your child when you sit down next to her and read? I believe it teaches her that SHE'S a priority and reading is a priority. I'm attaching a link to an article about SSR (Sustained Silent Reading). Thomas O'Neill is discussed in the article. You'll read about how Mr. O'Neill transformed his school through SSR. The article fails to mention, however, that Mr. O'Neill required his teachers to participate in SSR! Ooohh! I'd love to hear that faculty meeting when he mentioned this additional "requirement"!

Are you thinking that you don't have time to sit down with your child and read for 10 minutes? How many times did you check your email today? What about ESPN or Fox News? We have time to do what's a priority for us. Are you thinking that your child doesn't have time to sit for 10 minutes and read with you? Did he go to baseball today? Did she play on WebKinz? What about watch his favorite television show? Is that really more important than learning the life-long skill of reading? Are you thinking you really don't like to read books? How about a magazine? The newspaper? Any form of print media will work! (That applies to our kids, too.)

Now, go snag your kids, sit on the couch and READ!

Happy reading,
Susanne

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/poland.html

If you feel like digging a little deeper. Here is "The Read-Aloud Handbook" in Google Books. Go to pages 19 and 20 to read about Mr. O'Neill.

http://books.google.com/books?id=B2_yUfmc6dsC&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=thomas+p.+oneill+lewenberg+middle+school&source=bl&ots=joqZ5KsUie&sig=zCfhF_aQ59pcz4oE0aUNvk7zcG4&hl=en&ei=XbXQS4LyO4ea8ASyr52ECg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false