The Family Reading Plan

Do you have a Family Reading Plan?

Establish a Plan
· Schedule afterschool activities by establishing a homework and study time
· Establish schedules and routines

Monitor and Limit TV and Internet Time
· Choose appropriate programs to watch
· Watch and discuss family programs
· Ask children to discuss their opinions about the TV characters; their perspective, fact and opinion and fantasy
· Use the internet with your child; find websites that provide opportunities
to read and discover information related to school work

Establish DEAR Time-- Drop Everything and Read
· Turn off the TV, radio, and read/browse
· Every family member can participate; even infants and toddlers can listen to stories
· Read books. Model this behavior by refusing to answer the telephone during DEAR time. Delay household chores to read. Try DEAR time everyday, at the same time
· Have each person describe what he or she has read

Establish Bed Times
Research shows that tired children cannot learn. Children need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep each night
· Insist that children are prepared and ready to go to bed at an established time each evening.
· Read bedtime stories

Set up a Study Place/Start a Library
Every child needs a special place to study and keep books. This can be a desk or part of the kitchen table. Provide shelf, crate, or box to store personal books and materials. Maintain a bulletin board, refrigerator space or other location to place children's work, certificates and achievements
· Go to the library; check out books to browse/read
· Begin a personal library in your home