A+Message+for+Parents+of+Older+Readers

Dear Parents,
===Summer is a great time to encourage your child/ren to read, read, read! Many of us will be close to public libraries or bookstores, and this is a great chance to check out new titles as well as read old favorites. Please don't forget that students can check out books from the Learning Hub as well. We will be open all summer.===

===For children in the upper grades, summer reading is designed to help them maintain their reading stamina (how long they can sit and read continuously) and reading volume (how //many// books they read at a comfortable reading level), as well as helping them develop critical thinking skills about the book they are reading.===

You can help your child/ren in various ways:
===1. Provide uninterrupted time for them to sit and read quietly. Creating a routine each day is a great way to start. Reading on the beach, on the airplane, or making a ritual of a family afternoon reading time--all of these are great ways to create a reading habit in your child.===

===2. Read aloud to your child/ren. Even children in 4th and 5th grade (I would argue even older than that!) benefit greatly from listening to a story being read to them. The added benefit is that it provides a nice bonding time as a family. There are many picture books that are perfect for older readers that have deeper themes, as well as excellent chapter book recommendations on this wiki.===

===3. Be a reading role model. Children notice everything we do, and they pay attention. Whether it be a newspaper, a magazine or a good novel, it is wonderful for children to see adults choosing to read.===

d. How does the character change throughout the story? Did he or she learn any life lessons?
===Please do not feel that you need to seek out English books if you are in your home country. We want to encourage reading in your home language. As you know, reading quality literature in your home language gives children the chance to solidify their first language (mother tongue), as well as helps them to continue developing higher-level thinking skills.===