Three easy ways to increase understanding
It's never too early to start teaching your child to read, or at least lay the foundations for early literacy, and it can certainly be left too late! If you are not sure then think about it. Statistically, more American children suffer long-term harm to life throughout the process of learning to read than parental abuse, accidents and all other childhood diseases and disorders combined. In purely economic terms, reading difficulties associated costs our nation more than the war against terrorism, crime, and drugs combined. Reading problems are another challenge to our world by contribute significantly to the perpetuation of socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups. However it is not only poor children and minorities who struggle with reading. According to the map 2002 of the National Reading Report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), most of our children (64%) are less competent in reading, even after 12 years of our attempts to teach them. Even without knowing these worrisome statistics we are aware that reading proficiency is key to success - not only academically but in life. As the U.S. federal government and states teachers: "No jurisdiction other subjects taught in school and learned by school children is more important that reading is the gateway to all other knowledge to teach students read by the end of the third year is the most important .. task assigned to elementary schools. Those who learn to read with ease in the early years have a base on which to build new knowledge. Those who do are doomed to repeated cycles of frustration and failure. "More than any other subject or skill, the future of our children are determined by how they learn to read. Reading is absolutely fundamental. It has been said so often that it became meaningless, but he does not deny its truth. In our society, our world, the inability to read consigns children to failure in school and provides adults with the lowest strata of job opportunities and life. And just when we thought the stakes could not get more, during the last decade, the results of educational research found that how children learn to read has other, yet the consequences more life shaping. Most children begin learning to read during a profoundly formative phase in their development. As they begin to learn to read, they are also learning to think abstractly. They learn to learn and they are experiencing emotional feelings about who they are and how they learn. What does this mean? Most children who struggle with reading blame themselves. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, the process of learning to read teaches these children to be ashamed of themselves - ashamed of their minds - ashamed of how they learn. And the sad truth is that they have nothing to be ashamed. As Dr. Grover Whitehurst, Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, Assistant Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education (2003) says: "Failed to read for children of almost all is not the failure of the child, the failure of politicians, school failure, the failure of teachers and no parents. We need to rethink what it means to learn to read and who is responsible for its success if we will solve the problem. "Do you wait for policy makers to find a solution? Do you trust them? Or do you ensure that work is well done in supporting yourself? I know what my answer is because I know first-hand witnesses difficulties throughout the life of my brother what an irrevocable impact a reading struggle early in life can bring. It can mark your child for life! I am not promising that your child can learn to read early or do not have trouble. After all, there are a large number of children with learning disabilities. These children will struggle. However, early education can alleviate their suffering and make the fight a little easier to handle. At the very least you'll know you've done everything to help your child and your child will know as well. This can not be a waste of energy! And you have a head start on every educator because you know your child - herr temperament, strengths and weaknesses. You are the person best equipped to begin teaching your child. So we return to the central question when education should begin reading to your child? Traditional American Education models call for teaching a child to read between the ages of 7-9. Obviously, we can not begin to teach a baby to read. However, we can begin in early childhood to lay the foundation for literacy which, at the end of your child a better reader. Literacy is defined as the ability of an individual to read, write and speak English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, the family of the individual, and the society. Many simple things we do at home with our children support the development of literacy so that you are already working to make your child more educated, even if you are not actively begin the process of learning to your child to read. This includes simple activities such as reading to your child, reciting nursery rhymes and songs. But what if you want to become a more active participant? There are many things you can do and this does not mean you have to invest hundreds of dollars in an expensive reading program. You do not really need to spend much money at all to teach your child to read at home or at least prepare your child for early reading instruction in school. Most parents already have the tools you need in your home to get started today! That is why I emphasize that it is never too early to start, if you work with your child's development and make learning fun and interesting and difficult. My strategy is essential for educators to create learning opportunities and out of the way of my students so they can learn. Learning is an active experience that should fully engage the participant. I think when I'm "teaching" that the student is passively involved in the learning process. I see myself more as a guide and a resource teacher in my class. I took this approach with the education of my son and he was very successful. We have various learning toys and aids in our house and there are many lessons take place each day (at home and outside) but I've never drilled on facts or even used flashcards. If you can find ways to make learning fun and exciting, something your child wants to do with you-then begin as soon as possible. Your child will have a chance to dry lectures, mind-numbing repetitive drills, and boring lessons as they grow so do not even go there. If you can not make learning fun and more like a game, and then do not even go there. Trust your child's education for professionals and hope for the best. Remember, there are many wonderful teachers out there if your child is not doomed to failure, even if you do not intervene. However, the system is not a success and it is likely that at some point during the process your child may be adversely affected by it! That's why I take an active role in educating my child.