Put in the ssr lessons


Convincing parents to read with their children and getting students to 
read:  

I've had some success with this problem by using this analogy.  I ask 
the child if he can ride a bike.  They are usually quite proud of their 
ability to do this.  Then I ask how did they learn?  They usually have some 
long story to share.  Then I remark, Huh, you didn't learn to ride your bike 
by standing next to it holding on to the handlebars?  They look at me like 
I'm nuts!  I then tell them that reading is the same way.  Holding a book 
in  your hands is a good start but if they truly want to learn to read they have 
to get in there and practice.  I then ask if they first learned on a 
racing  bike like race winners use.  They assure me that their bike was a smaller 
version, some even admit to training wheels.  Then we talk about books with 
training wheels to keep us steady until we are ready to move on up without the
support.  After that usually just asking if they are standing next to 
their bike will remind them I think they need a more appropriate book to be 
reading.

Hope this helps someone.

Donna in Maine








I use a similar analogy with my children and parents at our first 
meeting before school starts. It goes like this: You can hire the best 
swimming teacher to teach your child to swim, but if your child does 
not  practice, he/she will never learn to swim. You can hire the best piano 
teacher for your child. Unless your child practices, will he/she learn 
to play the piano?...Reading is a skill Any skill requires a lot of 
practice.

 

The next thing I say, which I read somewhere..."you don't have to read 
everyday...just the days you eat."

 

My point has been clear and well taken.