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What can reading do for kids?

• Reading can articulate their speech.
• Reading can keep them in a conversation about all types of issues. Communication among Peers.
• If they have trouble with certain words, always keep a dictionary close by.
• Ask for help if you need it; the smartest scholars in the world didn’t know everything when they were born; they had to ask somebody. If you are blessed to be a genius then share your mind with a Peer.
• Need help boosting confidence? Start by reading out loud and then with someone you know; it may be in church or with a group.
• You are never to cool; stop trying to be in and fit in your school work; the coolest people I know were some of the smartest but not all of them breezed through school. They had to work at it. check out this link Omega Psi Phi
• Now that you see what applying your self can do, go and pick up a book; make sure it is something that you always wanted to know about.

Summer Programs

• Books, Back Packs and BB-Q/North-Side Concert in the park: Coming Aug of 2009
• The Need 2 Read T-Bones outing: June games.
• Vacation for Education:
• NorthSide Foundation Charity golf:

Invitational

        
I’ve noticed that most kids take on the characteristics of what is around them whether it is mom, dad or television; what do we see on television other than violence, verbal slang in the videos and very negative influences.

When children hear books read aloud, they come to understand why learning to read is important. They learn that people read for different reasons – books that tell a story can be read for pleasure; books full of facts and information can be read in order to learn new things. Children learn a great deal when they listen to books read aloud – they hear new words, learn new ways of saying things, and are introduced to new ideas, different people, and faraway places.

   Will Shields "Reach out and read" For more info click here.

When reading a book with your children, you can:

• Let them hold the book and turn the pages.
• Talk about different parts of the book such as the front, back, title page, first page, and last page.
• Take your time reading. Do not rush.
• Point to the words as you read. Help them to see that there are spaces between words, that you read from the top of the page to the bottom, and that you read from left to right.
• Ask them to think about the story as you read it.
• Point to the pictures and talk about them.
• Read expressively: talk the way the story's characters might talk; make sound effects and funny faces; and vary the pitch of your voice throughout the story to make it more interesting.
• Encourage them to ask questions about the story's characters and events.
• Talk about the story and relate it to their personal experiences.

 Here are some of the SUPER benefits of reading,  Better grades, Opportunity in many aspects, Self confidence, Feel Proud and no more Embarrassment.

Reading doesn't just happen. It is a skill that must be nurtured from a child's earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers.

One of our most important assets in life is reading and comprehension; it is also what our youth is lacking.

is the foundation of education and understanding that without being able read you will make it ruff for your self. This program is designed to build your vocabulary as well as increase your ability to read.

 My goal with Need 2 Read is to aid in teaching our kids to speak properly, hear clearly and focus.

can teach those fundamentals and provide a great foundation for their future. As parents we should encourage our kids to read a paragraph in a book at least three times weekly.

What makes a children's book good?
A good children's book interests the children who read it and makes them want to read more.

Some such books appear regularly on lists of recommended children's reading. These are the books that appeal to many youngsters and have won the respect of librarians and educators. The real test of a "good" book, however, is your children's reactions to it. Take your cue from them. Trust your instincts and your children's judgment as you explore the world of children's literature together.

You can make your child’s holidays and special occasions enriching and entertaining with reading and writing activities.

Because children are energetic and enthusiastic during summer vacation, holidays, and seasonal occasions, these special days provide wonderful opportunities for incorporating learning activities into a child’s routine. Think of curling up with your child during the winter holidays to read him a magical story. When flowers bloom in the springtime, plan a trip to the library to learn more about the wonders of nature. During the summer months, challenge your child to read fun stories as you travel, sit by the pool, or picnic in the park

How to Nurture a Growing Reader

Here are a dozen tips for nurturing your growing readers:

1. Read with your children at least once every day.
   
   
2. Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.
   
   
3. Notice what interests your child, then help find books about those things.
   
   
4. Respect your child's choices. There's nothing wrong with series fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.
   
   
5. Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.
   
   
6. Help your child build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.
   
   
7. Check up on your children's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.
   
   
8. Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.
   
   
9. Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.
   
   
10. Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.
    
    
11. Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by  themselves.
    
    
12. Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.

The Need 2 Read is fun Indeed

Need 2 Read collects books of purpose, books of adventure and books of moral values; please donate to this program in any way you see fit.

Key Message for Parents:
Loosen up, but don’t let go.

Kick back and read a good book!

Getting Your Child to Love Reading

Author: Kathryn Perkinson
Source: Perkinson, K. (April, 1993). Helping Your Child Use the Library. Office of Educational Research and Improvement. U.S. Department of Education.

Helping your children to enjoy reading is one of the most important things you can do as a parent and its well worth the investment of your time and energy.

Kids will learn reading skills in school, but often they come to associate reading with work, not pleasure. As a result, they lose their desire to read. And it is that desire—the curiosity and interest—that is the cornerstone to using reading and related skills successfully.

By far the most effective way to encourage your children to love books and reading is to read aloud to them, and the earlier you start, the better. Even a baby of a few months can see pictures, listen to your voice, and turn cardboard pages.

Make this time together a special time when you hold your kids and share the pleasure of a story without the distractions of TV or telephones. You may be surprised to find that a well-written children's book is often as big a delight to you as it is to the kids.

And don't stop taking the time to read aloud once your children have learned to read for themselves. At this stage, encourage them to read to you some of the time. This shared enjoyment will continue to strengthen your children's interest and appreciation.

Simply having books, magazines, and newspapers around your home will help children to view them as part of daily life. And your example of reading frequently, and enjoying it, will reinforce that view.

While your children are still very small, it's a good idea to start a home library for them, even if it's just a shelf or two. Be sure to keep some books for little children to handle freely.

Include specially made, extra durable books for infants, and pick paperbacks and plastic covers for kids who are older but still not quite ready for expensive hardbacks. Allowing little children to touch  books will help them to develop strong attachments.

How you handle books will eventually influence how your kids treat them. Children imitate, so if they see that you enjoy reading and treat books gently and with respect, it is likely that they will do the same.

When you read aloud together, choose books that you both like. If a book seems dull, put it down and find one that is appealing. There are, however, so many children's books in print that making the best selections may seem a formidable task.

One approach is to look for award-winning books. There are two famous awards for children's literature made each year by the American Library Association that are good indicators of quality work: the Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Medal for writing. But these are given to only two of the approximately 2,500 new children's books published each year.

Fortunately, there is a lot of other good help available. For instance, there are lists of books recommended by the American Library Association and the Library of Congress and some excellent books to guide parents in making selections.

The best help of all, though, is at your neighborhood library. If you are not familiar with the library, don't hesitate to ask for help. The children's librarian is trained to help you locate specific books, books that are good for reading aloud, and books on a particular subject recommended for a particular age group.

The library also has many book lists, including ones like those mentioned above and probably some published by the library itself.

In addition, your library will have several journals that regularly review children's books, including The Horn Book and Booklist. These will give you an idea of what's new and worth pursuing.

And there's nothing like just browsing through the many books available at your library until you find ones that appeal to you and your kids.

If your children are school-aged, keep in mind that the school library is an excellent source for a wide variety of materials and the school librarian is knowledgeable about children's literature. Encourage your kids to bring home books from their school library for pleasure as well as for their studies.