Parents can help their children prepare for the future by providing them with a literate home environment. The article suggests that parents model literacy at home, make time for reading and writing, create a literate environment, strengthen bonds while developing skills, and find meaning in reading and writing. (SM)

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Paying Double: United States Spends Over $1.4 Billion Annually on Remedial Education for Recent High School…

Parents are the child's first and most important teacher. This booklet begins with a story about the parent of a first grade reader. The parent in the story models methods which a real life parent could employ to help a child learn to read such as finding words that begin with the first letter of a child's name, or taking turns with the child…

This set of materials consists of two booklets designed to assist parents in helping their children to study and learn appropriate studying skills, beginning at preschool and primary grade levels. Book 1 is designed for use at the preschool level and Book 2 is designed for use at the kindergarten to Grade 3 level. Each of these volumes contains…

This booklet briefly explains the identification of people with dyslexia, the referral and testing processes, the development of an educational program for dyslexics, and the progress and evaluation stages of dealing with dyslexia. The booklet's premise is that today dyslexics may enter any professional field to which they are suited, once they…

This brochure discusses enriching summertime or vacation experiences that stimulate children to read and learn more. The brochure discusses free or low-cost resources available in the community, such as the library, park programs, zoos or nature centers, museums, historic districts, and community arts. The brochure also discusses reading and…

This issue focuses on the developmental path that children typically take when learning to read. The purpose is to help parents take steps to ensure that their children will make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn by the end of third grade. An introductory section includes two articles: "Parents, Children, and…

One way parents can improve their children's literacy skills is to create home portfolios. These showcase portfolios represent the child's best efforts and reflect achievements, and their scope is limitless. Creating home portfolios fosters self-esteem, teaches students about portfolios, encourages parent-child interactions, and improves study…

Noting that parent involvement in student schoolwork ranks high as a cause of academic success for most children, this book helps parents act as tutors in reading and writing for their first- and second-grade children. It offers both general guidelines and specific strategies and activities to use for accomplishing specific objectives, such as…

This pamphlet describes the new Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) Essential Skills Reading Test which was given to every fourth, seventh, and tenth grader in Michigan in 1989. The questions addressed in the pamphlet include: (1) Why is a new MEAP reading test needed? (2) How has the teaching of reading changed? (3) How is the new MEAP…

Designed for parents who want to know what they can do to help their child have a good start in developing prereading skills and early reading development, this booklet provides parents with information that will help them give their child a maximum opportunity for success in reading. The booklet includes a list of reading readiness skills,…

Intended for parents and all citizens concerned about improving Chicago's 592 public schools, this handbook explains how important reading is to a decent education and future employment. Chapter one describes the school improvement campaign called "Schoolwatch," the problems in the Chicago public schools, and the components of effective…

This brochure offers parents tips on helping their children connect writing with reading. It begins by noting that preschool children often want to scribble on paper, scribbles which sometimes represent a story. It suggests making space in the home for literacy, and encouraging early efforts. The brochure then offers four brief activities for…

By blending reading aloud, in particular "performance reading," with follow-up discussion, related activities, and plenty of wordplay, parents can prepare their children to think, communicate, and succeed in the adult world. Performance reading helps parents learn to read wordless books to relate to infants/toddlers; explore sounds of words to…

Combining the language experience approach and phonics instruction, this guide provides parents and early childhood teachers a comprehensive resource for developing a strong foundation for pre-readers. The guide offers over 1,000 activities, games, fingerplays, songs, tongue-twisters, poems, and stories for the letters of the alphabet to develop a…