Recognizing that children watch an average of 25 hours of television per week, this booklet is designed to help parents redirect their children's television viewing to higher quality programs. Ten "tips" are provided to help parents guide their children's television (TV) viewing: (1) set your child's TV schedule; (2) get involved (in the child's…

Relatively few studies of family literacy programmes have investigated parents' views, despite their importance for the future development of this kind of programme in early childhood education. This article reports on a family literacy programme from the perspectives of the parents involved in it. The study was carried out in socio-economically…

This pamphlet is designed to help parents help their children make the short but important step from language play to loving writing. The pamphlet discusses ways to: encourage children's curiosity and imaginative play; make reading an important part of family life; and respect children's interests in writing and reading. It also suggests…

Intended for parents and teachers, this guide provides all the information needed to lead a second grader through 30 lessons or 30 weeks of learning for a beginning speller. The guide helps the child to learn to identify common, logical spelling patterns; leads the child quickly to more complex words; and aids him or her in becoming a confident,…

Intended for parents and teachers, this guide provides all the information needed to lead a third grader through 30 lessons or 30 weeks of learning for a speller. The guide helps the child to learn to identify common, logical spelling patterns; leads the child quickly to more complex words; and aids him or her in becoming a confident, independent…

Suggestions are offered for parents who wish to support their gifted children's writing. Parents should write themselves and share their writing with their children. Parents should encourage children to write abundantly to promote children's interest and confidence. Parents should not correct or comment on their children's writing unless asked for…

Children begin school with some very basic ideas about written language and reading. The first is that of sign and message. That a graphic representation, a "sign," conveys meaning is an early and easy concept for children that stems from their visually attending to print in their environment. The realization that spoken language can be…

This brochure for parents reflects the position statement "Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children," jointly issued by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the International Reading Association (IRA). The brochure discusses ten simple suggestions for parents…

Data on the writing achievement of 11th-grade students in 1990 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) may help answer the question of who is right: employers and educators who say students are poorly prepared in writing, or parents and students, who are more positive about the results of the writing preparation students receive…

This book offers pre-school teachers, kindergarten teachers, daycare workers, and parents ways to help young children begin to read and write, by placing stories at the very center of the early childhood curriculum. The book includes an in-depth discussion of the crucial pedagogical and developmental roles that stories can play in early childhood…

This ERIC/RCS Special Collection contains 10 or more Digests (brief syntheses of the research on a specific topic in contemporary education) and FAST Bibs (Focused Access to Selected Topics--annotated bibliographies with selected entries from the ERIC database), providing up-to-date information in an accessible format. The collection focuses on…

This guide for parents of students with learning disabilities in Alberta (Canada) presents a variety of strategies parents can use to help their children in grades 1 through 9 become successful learners. Section 1 offers ideas for helping students get and stay organized such as using self-talk to create a positive attitude and organizing…

This brochure describes the state of Washington's efforts to improve its educational program and to ensure that the state's young people are receiving the knowledge and skills they will need in the 21st century. In 1993, Washington established a Commission on Student Learning to work toward four educational goals. These goals call for students to:…

Suggestions directed to parents and family members for turning everyday home activities into opportunities for learning are based on three principles: reading and researching; reinforcement and reward; and review and reapplication. It is proposed that establishing a good home learning environment includes setting regular, daily times to work with…

This booklet suggests that parents read with their elementary-age child, allowing the child to participate in the reading. The booklet also shows how to make the home a reader-friendly environment, initiate writing activities with a child, and make family trips to the library. Sections of the booklet are: "Read to Your Child"; "The…