New Videos Support Reading at Home

October 9, 2009 - Parents interested in reinforcing their children's classroom instruction -- or giving them a strong foundation before entering school -- can now find some helpful tips on the new WCPSS Reading at Home Website.

"We know that families and caregivers want the very best for their children," said Dr. Sherri Merritt, director of K-12 literacy programs for WCPSS. "However, we often hear them ask for suggestions on what specific, concrete things they can do to support reading. These videos give a brief glimpse into how we can all support the literacy development of children in ways that are engaging and fun."

Each of the eleven videos is one to three minutes long, featuring research-driven, easy-to-understand advice, such as:

Expose a child to adult, articulate conversation to build a strong foundation for reading skills.
Engage a child's curiosity about a book even before the cover is opened.
A child is never "too old" to be read to, even if he or she is an independent reader.

"These videos provide easy suggestions for interacting with children to support their reading growth at home, in the car, and in everyday life," said Dr. Merritt.

The videos will be made available in a variety of venues, and can also be viewed on the WCPSS Website at www.wcpss.net/readingathome/.