Dear Parents, 

 

"One more chapter" was my mantra growing up. Some of my fondest memories from childhood were of time I spent with my dad and mom reading to me before bedtime; and as I got older, it was my turn to read to them. 

 

Growing up, this was always one of my favorite times of the day--I still cherish those stories and the time we spent together especially because I know how busy they both were. My mom was a teacher, and I am sure she had papers to grade. My dad always had projects to work on at the house. But, no matter how busy they were, we always had our reading time. My favorite books were the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and I think that we read each book in the series at least ten times!  

 

My son, who is now a junior in college, will still talk about us reading the Harry Potter books, and when he was older, "The Count of Monte Cristo." Like many families, there were many nights we skipped reading because life got in the way, but I treasure every evening when we made the time.

 

Today is National Read Aloud Day. I wanted to share my love of stories with the students, and I was fortunate to spend the day reading to our kids. I spent time in every grade level today from kindergarten to eighth grade. We read old favorites, new books, stories that go with what they are studying and some that were "just for fun."  

 

Teachers know how important reading aloud is in helping their students grow. According to the International Literacy Association, " Reading aloud every day to your students is a research-based, proven way to motivate your students to read on their own, model good reading, promote critical thinking, and create a sense of community in your classroom." If it works in a classroom, imagine what it can do in your home. 

 

I'd like to encourage you to take time today, and every day to read with your child, no matter how old they are. Everyone likes to listen to a good story and spend time with people that matter the most to them.