Parents should not leave the job of meeting these standards solely to schools. While schools play a significant role in a child’s education, parents are also a crucial part of their child’s learning and development. Here are a few reasons why parents should not rely solely on schools to meet these standards:

1. Parental Involvement Enhances Learning: Research has consistently shown that parental involvement in their child’s education is linked to better academic outcomes for students. When parents are involved in their child’s learning and development, it can reinforce the skills and knowledge that their child is learning in school and help them make connections between school and home.
2. Reinforcement of Learning: Children need ongoing practice and reinforcement of skills and knowledge in order to master them. By providing opportunities for their child to practice reading skills and encouraging a love of reading, parents can reinforce what their child is learning in school and help them develop a strong foundation for future learning.
3. Holistic Development: Schools often focus on academic skills, but parents can support their child’s holistic development by fostering social-emotional skills, creativity, and other areas of development. This can include reading books with diverse characters and themes, encouraging imaginative play, and engaging in conversations with their child about their feelings and experiences.
4. Collaborating with Schools: Parental involvement can also lead to better collaboration between parents and schools. By staying informed about their child’s progress and communicating regularly with teachers, parents can work together with schools to support their child’s learning and development.

Summer can be a great time for children to relax and enjoy the sunshine, but it’s important for them to continue reading during their break. Unfortunately, there may be several reasons why your child won’t read enough this summer:

1. Screen time is more appealing.
2. There aren’t enough books in the house.
3. Reading feels like homework.
4. It’s hard to find books that interest them.
5. They don’t have a designated time to read.
6. They struggle with reading and find it frustrating.
7. They’re too busy with other activities.
8. They don’t see adults reading regularly.
9. They’re more interested in other hobbies.
10. They simply don’t value reading.

As a parent, it’s important to address these issues and find ways to encourage your child to read. Consider setting aside designated reading time each day, taking them to the library to find books that interest them or finding ways to incorporate reading into their other hobbies. By making reading a priority, you can instill a lifelong love of learning in your child.

Concern with failing elementary students with reading to expectations in the United States, specifically regarding the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2019.

The NAEP is a standardized test administered to students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in the United States to measure proficiency in various subjects, including reading. In 2019, the NAEP found that only 35% of fourth-grade students were proficient in reading, which was a slight decrease from the previous NAEP administration in 2017.

The results also showed significant disparities in reading proficiency based on students’ race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. For example, only 18% of Black fourth-grade students and 23% of Hispanic fourth-grade students were proficient in reading, compared to 45% of White fourth-grade students. Similarly, only 22% of fourth-grade students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch were proficient in reading, compared to 53% of students who were not eligible.

These results are concerning because reading proficiency in the early years is critical for long-term academic success. Students who struggle to read at grade level by third grade are more likely to experience academic difficulties and drop out of high school. Additionally, research has shown that students who are not proficient in reading by fourth grade are more likely to experience negative social and emotional outcomes, such as low self-esteem and behavior problems.

Efforts to improve literacy rates in elementary schools are ongoing and involve various strategies, including implementing evidence-based reading instruction, providing additional support for struggling readers, increasing access to high-quality literature, and engaging families in literacy activities. However, addressing the systemic issues that contribute to disparities in educational outcomes, such as poverty and inequality, is also necessary to improve reading proficiency among all students.

A great article by Pamela Li – Parenting for Brain

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