Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools May/June 2017 | Page 6

Reading can be fun! Just ask a third grader
“I like to read,” said Union Elementary third-grader Gabriel
Medlin noted that sometimes children will read words, but not
Williams. “Sometimes when I read, I learn new stuff about things I
really comprehend the meaning of those words. “We ask them to
didn’t even know about. If you don’t read, you probably won’t find
read and then tell us what they read. If they can’t, then we need to
out stuff, and you wouldn’t know things when somebody asks you
go back and find out what’s missing.
something. So you should read to learn new things.”
“If they do not understand what they’re reading, they’re really
Learning new things is a very important reason to read, but
not reading,” Medlin added. “We have to make sure they comprehend
Gabriel, who reads about 30 to 40 minutes a day, reads mostly
what they are reading. We check that before they move on to the
for fun. His favorite book is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” because, “The
next level of reading.”
character, Greg, is so funny and I really like to read about him.”
To test a child’s reading level, a parent should check in frequently
Students seem to realize the importance of knowing how to
with their young reader.
read. Bailey McManus, another UCPS third
“Ask your child questions
grader, said all her friends read. In fact, she
frequently, not just at the end
doesn’t know anyone who does not read.
of the book,” Merritt said. “As
“Reading is fun,” said Bailey, who
they’re reading, ask, ‘What’s
admits to reading more than an hour a
happening now in your book?’
day. “It helps you with a lot of things.
‘Tell me about the character.’
It helps you understand more words. It
Showing that you’re genuinely
helps you in school, even with subjects
interested is the biggest thing.”
like math. Reading helps you learn
Having children read out
more. If you want to go to college,
loud also helps fluency and
knowing how to read will help you get a
comprehension, Medlin said.
good scholarship, because you have to
“I’ve had kids who read super
read for everything.”
fast, but they’re just reading
Although many students enjoy
words so fast they’re not putting
reading, for some it’s a challenge. With
everything together. Reading has
the competition for a child’s attention
so many different components
being spirited away by television, video
other than just reading words.”
games and social media, parents and
Parents and educators
teachers alike have a challenge getting
alike know the importance of
Third graders at Union Elementary School read their favorite
some children to read.
reading, but getting children to
books at Camp Read S’more. The camp, complete with a
Individual schools are holding a
read can be a challenge.
realistic-looking campfire, tents, recorded nature sounds and
variety of literacy-related events that
Williams said the best
snacks, was set up recently in the comfort of the school’s gym
encourages reading.
way to get students to read
for two hours of reading after school. Students logged a total of
Union Elementary School had an after 4,080 minutes of reading during the two hours.
is to find books on topics
school reading campout called Camp Read
they’re interested in like
S’more that filled the gymnasium with tents, sleeping bags, sounds of
sports, animals, or activities they enjoy.
nature via audio recordings and faux campfires.
Students also have other options for reading. Some UCPS
“We’re trying our best to make it fun to read so kids are excited
teachers are currently sharing a reading program called MyOn, which
and want to learn,” said Union Elementary principal Jennifer Deaton.
offers 70 percent non-fiction options and 30% fiction. “It’s like Netflix
“We know that reading is a life-long skill that they’re going to use
for books,” Williams said.
every day. We need to teach them at an early age how important it is.”
MyOn is a reading program with more than 5,000 books that
Lindsay Merritt, UCPS Elementary Education Instructional Content students can access from any digital platform: computers, cell
Facilitator, said the approximately 35 third graders who participated
phones, Ipads, tablets and Chromebooks.
in the two-hour campout logged more than 4,000 minutes reading.
Merritt noted that MyOn also calculates the minutes a student
Merritt said one secret to getting students to read is for parents
has read. “All books are on their reading level. So they can read the
to read in front of their children.
books themselves, or they can listen to it being played.”
“We made reading important at our house,” Merritt said. “My
Even though students enjoy reading online books, apparently
daughter sees me and her dad reading the newspaper or online.
even for young students there is nothing quite like holding a book in
We’ve made it a part of our home culture as well.”
one’s hand.
Lindsey Williams, a UCPS Instructional content facilitator, agrees.
“They enjoy the platform of technology because they’re so used
“Show them that you like to read. This could be reading together on
to playing video games and TV, but every once in a while, I’ll go into
the weekends. If they see that the parent is involved in reading, then the classroom and they’ll say, ‘Can I get a real book now?’ and they’ll
they will be more apt to want to read themselves.”
want to get a book off the shelf,” Merritt said. “So I think it’s a little
“It’s vitally important for parents to read with their children,”
bit of a mixture of both; they like the platform of digital literacy, but
agrees third-grade UCPS teacher Amy Medlin. “Parents need to be
they also like to grab a real book.”
involved with their children’s reading at home, not just sending them
Besides modeling behavior and reading to their children, parents
to their room, letting them read for 30 minutes, then coming out
may also consider getting a library card for their children and giving
saying, ‘Yeah, I read.’ Listen to them read a page. Close the book and them lots of opportunities to use it.
tell them to tell you what they just read.”
—This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools
Communications Office.
4 • May/June 2017 • Parent Teacher Magazine