Reading to a child just 20 minutes twice a week can have a dramatic impact on the child’s reading comprehension and vocabulary.

Tuesday, October 10, 2000

Reading to a child just 20 minutes twice a week can have a dramatic impact on the child’s reading comprehension and vocabulary. And those effects can be seen with both young children and kids who have the skills to read on their own.

That’s why Banfield Elementary School is hosting a parent training session to teach parents how to effectively read to their elementary school children.

It’s one of the initiatives the school has begun in order to reach its goal to get more kids reading at their grade level, Banfield Principal Candice Raskin said. Right now, 64 percent of the third-graders are reading at that level.

"We hope to get that up over 70 percent," Raskin said.

The parent training session is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the school. Parents of Banfield Elementary School children are encouraged to attend. Raskin said parents of elementary school children outside of Banfield also are welcome.

Raskin said it’s important to effectively read to all children, from kindergartners to fifth-graders.

"Research shows that when parents read out loud to their children and ask even just one question about what was read, the child’s reading comprehension and vocabulary improve," Raskin said. "Most parents do read to their children, but do they take a couple minutes afterward to discuss what was just read?"

Even children who can read for themselves can benefit from adults reading to them and asking them questions.

"Most parents think that when their children begin to read chapter books that their kids don’t want to be read to anymore – that they want to read on their own," Raskin said.

While it’s important that children do take time to read on their own, many still enjoy and can benefit from adults reading out loud.

"With the fifth-graders, it does pan out. They all still love to be read to," Raskin said, adding that she often reads to some of the students when bad weather keeps everyone inside during recess.

The training session focuses on teaching parents the techniques to reading to a child and the kinds of questions to ask afterward. An age-appropriate book list also will be available.

Children who accompany their parents Tuesday will have books read to them by National Honor Society students.

"We are asking that parents pledge to spend at least 20 minutes, two nights a week reading to their child," Raskin said. "It’s a small commitment but if everyone would do it, it would make a huge impact."