BRINGING LEARNING HOME
by Bonnie Fantauzza

Handwriting is an important communication skill. To reinforce this skill at home, the parent might:
1. Set a good example. Be sure the notes you write are legible.
2. Give your child many opportunities to write - shopping lists, notes to relatives, invitations, greeting cards, thank you notes, etc.
3. Do not be concerned about left-handedness: Do not try to change it.
4. Comment on written papers - discuss, do not criticize.
5. Have the child take time to proofread any finshed work.

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Most advertisements contain rich and colorful words which describe a product or service. Encourage yur child to read highway billboards, posters on buses and trains, and advertising displays in stores. These advertisements are an excellent source of new words you can discuss with your child. Sales brochures for new automobiles are an especially worthwhile form of advertising because they can introduce your child to many new words. The advertising booklets make exciting reading for young car enthusiasts, and they are easy to obtain at new car dealerships.

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Our lives have become very busy, but in this busy time we can still find way to keep our kids challenged. Use carpool and car travel time efficiently by having your child read to you, review spelling words, or do mental math problems. Always keep reading materials in your car, so that your child can reinforce good reading behaviors, as well as enjoy his/her favorite books. Remember that homework and reading are more important than tennis lessons, soccer practice, softball games, etc.

Take advantage of carpool time or sitting in traffic to help your child develop an understanding of the characteristics and meanings of numbers. Play the following game with your child. Let your child think of a number between a stated range of numbers while you try to guess the number by asking questions.

Here is a sample conversation:
Child: I am thinking of a number between 1 and 100.
Parent: Is it more than 50?
Child: No.
Parent: Is it an even number?
Child: No.
Parent: Is it more than 20, but less than 40?
Child: Yes.
Parent: Can you divide this number into 3 equal parts, and so on.

After you have guessed your child's number, let your child guess a number by asking similar questions. The questions asked demonstrate many different levels of math. They can serve as learning tools for explaining concepts. For example, you can take the opportunity to explain what an even number is if your child does not know.

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The following is a statement from the National TV-Turnoff Association.

"The average American watches more than four hours of television each day. At this rate by age 65, that person will have spent nine years of their life watching television. Upon graduation from high school, the average American child will have spent more time watching television than in school.

The National TV-Turnoff Association has designated the week of April 22-28 , as the National TV-Turnoff Week. The association is encouraging millions of families and individuals to turn off their television sets for seven days and engage in activities that encourage social, physical, scientific, and creative development.

The National Center for Family Literacy offers the following ideas to get the most out of family story time:

* Create a reading zone. Read in your children's bedroom where they are surrounded by a favorite blanket or toy.

* Act out. Create variations in your voice while reading the story and acting out the characters.

* Be repetitive. Read favorite books more than once. Repetition is important as a child learns to read and it boosts the child's memory skills.

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Reading together not only is a way to enhance family time, it can also boost a child's cognitive development.

April has been declared National Bedtime Story Month by the National Center for Family Literacy. The Center offers the following ideas to get the most out of family bedtime story time:

* Plan ahead. Go to the library during the weekend and let your child pick out five books for the week.

* Talk about the story again in the morning. Talking about the book you read the night before reinforces the special time you spend together.

* Keep up the ritual. Select a longer book and read a chapter or tow at a time. This provides continuity and builds excitement.

The amount of time a child spends reading outside of school is the best indicator of academic success. Outside reading increases vocabulary and familiarity with different types of literature. Children enjoy changing their own books. Don't worry if your child reads book after book on the same subject, reads only sports or computer magazines, or reads the same book over and over. Children will move to another subject or interest when they are ready. The object is to get children to use language, and to value print.