NYA Parent Workshop

Last evening, Mr. Brian engaged New York Academy parents in a workshop to help them understand how they can support their children at home to learn to read. He modelled strategies for Word Study (spelling), Reading Fluency, and Reading Comprehension.

Parents participated in hands-on activities to understand the best practice strategies we use here at school so that they can do them at home as well. Parents were facilitated to "turn and talk" to build and shape their understanding of how to read to and with their children at home.

Perhaps the most important principle and strategy Mr. Brian shared was how important it is to read to your child on a daily basis, while often pausing to engage in conversation to make meaning - always beginning with four magic words, "What do you think?"

The workshop was well attended with over fifty people.

A video of the workshop will be posted soon on the NYA website and Facebook Page.

NYA will have parent workshops on a monthly basis.

Please join us for our next one in November!

Mr. Brian is delighted to provide each student at New York Academy with a copy of his book, Phonics Things.

Phonics Things is a unique piece of children's literature - An ABC, learn to read book for the 21st Century.

80 letters and letter combinations - "Phonics 101" - are presented with Mr. Brian's paintings, poems, and word lists. Students learn the sounds of the English language, expand their vocabulary, develop their reading fluency, and grow their abilities with reading comprehension (every poem tells a story). At the back of the book are a number of learning strategies that guide the students, parents, and teachers on how to learn to read and have fun with Phonics Things.

The parents that attended last night's workshop was given a copy of Phonics Things for each of their children. For those who did not attend last night's workshop, your child's teacher will be sending a copy of Phonics Things home with your little one.

We also have a set of Phonics Things in each classroom to be used as an instructional resource. Don't be surprised if your child comes home and teaches you how to be a better reading using Phonics Things :)