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Narrator: 

Charlie Toth:

Parents, it is a proven fact that success in school starts with reading.  Children who become good readers in their early grades become more successful students throughout their remaining years in school.   

I encourage you to make a difference in your child's education.  Allow reading to become a part of your daily interaction with your child.  Read together every day.  Spend time talking about stories, pictures, and words.

 There are many things that you can do at home to help your child become a better reader. To build reading comprehension skills, you should talk with your child about the story that is being read. Ask about new words.  Talk about what happened in the story.  Ask about the characters, places, and events that took place in the story.  Ask your child what new information he or she learned from reading the book.

 A second activity you can do at home is share conversations with your child.  Talk with your child at meals and at other times you are together.  Children learn words more easily when they hear them spoken often. 

 Practice the sounds of language.  Read books with rhymes.  Teach your child rhymes, short poems, and songs.

 Take your child to the library on a regular basis.  Story time, computers, help with homework, and many other exciting activities await the entire family there.

 Finally, be an advocate for your child.  Know your child's reading progress at school.  Ask your child's teacher for specific ways you can help improve your child's reading skills.

 Parents, I want you to know that the Bavaria District has built a training program to assist parents to help their children become better readers.

 I encourage you to join your student as well as the teachers and administrators of the Bavaria District this year. Adopt our theme, Bavaria Reads, into your home. Make reading a family focused activity every night. If you do, your student will be better prepared to meet the challenges of his future 

Narrator:

For additional information about this training program and to learn more about how you can become more involved in improving your child's reading skills, contact your school principal today.