As parents, fostering a love for reading at home is an invaluable gift we can give our middle schoolers. At this crucial stage of development, instilling effective reading strategies not only supports academic success but also cultivates a lifelong appreciation for literature. In this article, we explore practical and engaging reading strategies that parents can implement at home to nurture their middle schoolers' reading skills.
Create a Cozy Reading Environment:
Designate a comfortable and quiet reading nook at home where your middle schooler can escape into the world of books. Make it inviting with soft lighting, cushions, and a variety of reading materials, creating a positive association with reading.
Establish a Family Reading Time:
Set aside dedicated time for family reading. This can be a shared activity where everyone in the family engages in reading their chosen books or takes turns reading aloud. Family reading time not only fosters a love for books but also creates a bonding experience.
Encourage Book Selection Based on Interests:
Middle schoolers are more likely to enjoy reading when they can choose books that align with their interests. Take trips to the library or bookstore together and let your child explore different genres, allowing them to pick books that captivate their curiosity.
Model Reading Behavior:
Serve as a positive reading role model by showcasing your own love for reading. Let your middle schooler see you enjoying a book, and share your thoughts and experiences related to what you're reading. Modeling reading behavior helps create a reading-friendly atmosphere at home.
Implement Reading Challenges:
Turn reading into an exciting adventure by introducing reading challenges. Set achievable goals, such as finishing a certain number of books within a month, exploring a new genre, or even creating a family reading challenge with rewards for milestones reached.
Engage in Book Discussions:
Foster critical thinking by engaging in discussions about the books your middle schooler is reading. Ask open-ended questions about characters, plot twists, and themes. This not only enhances comprehension but also encourages analytical thinking.
Utilize Technology for Reading:
Embrace technology to make reading interactive and engaging. Explore audiobooks, e-books, or educational apps that complement your child's interests. Some apps offer interactive features, quizzes, and activities that enhance the reading experience.
Connect Reading to Real-World Experiences:
Help your middle schooler see the relevance of reading by connecting it to real-world experiences. For example, if reading a historical fiction book, explore related documentaries or visit a museum to bring the content to life.
By incorporating these reading strategies into your home routine, you play a vital role in supporting your middle schooler's literacy development. Creating a conducive reading environment, establishing family reading time, encouraging book selection based on interests, modeling reading behavior, implementing challenges, engaging in discussions, utilizing technology, and connecting reading to real-world experiences all contribute to building strong foundations for a future of enriched learning and a genuine love for reading.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Danielle Bemmels, Bay View's Literacy Coach, at danibemm@hssdschools.org.
Respecting intellectual property is vital in our digital age and is an expectation that is included in our technology use policies.
Software Guidelines: Only the HSSD Technology Director can approve software installations on district devices to ensure proper licensing compliance.
Citing Sources: Online information is intellectual property; proper citation is a must. Always give proper attribution to the original creator when using or sharing their work. This includes citing sources in academic papers, presentations, and any other form of content creation.
When citing sources, students contribute to a culture of respect, fostering an environment where creativity is valued, and creators' rights are protected.
For more information visit HSSD Technology or Common Sense Media. Please contact Kelly Koller, Technology Integration Specialist, for questions at kellkoll@hssdschools.org
Did you know that the Bay View Math teachers have created hundreds of math videos to help support both students and parents? If your child is stuck on a topic or wants to see an extra example explained by a teacher at Bay View, check out these websites. There are hundreds of videos created on most math topics that we cover throughout the year. Just search for a topic in the search bar or in the channel to get started.
Thank you for helping us serve over 600 children for our Holiday Store and pantry in December. Your donations make a difference in helping so many students and their families. This month we are collecting breakfast food items: Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancake Mix and Pop Tarts.
If you think you may qualify for support from The Giving Tree, please reach out to Kourtney Feldhausen at kourfeld@hssdschools.org or call 920-662-7989.
STUDENT PICK-UP PROTOCOL
If you are picking a student up during the school day, you must come into the main office and sign the student out with your Driver's License. If someone other than you or your emergency contacts is picking up your student, please contact the office to let them know who is picking your student up. Students are not allowed to leave during school hours via bike or walking without prior approval from the main office and Principal.
HEALTH ROOM PROTOCOL
If your student is not feeling well, they need to follow protocol and come to the health room to report their illness prior to contacting home. Students should not be using their iPad to email a parent or texting a parent to pick them up. This will eliminate the spread of illnesses to other students and will make the office aware of students being picked up prior to parent arrival.
