Here are some great tips from  SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) http://www.getsmartoregon.org/smart-reading-tips-for-the-holidays/

SMART Reading Tips for the Holidays

Winter break is right around the corner, and holidays can get pretty hectic! Routines can fly out the window with celebrations, travel and out-of-town guests. As your family prepares for the holidays, use these tips for keeping kids engaged in learning and reading over winter break.

1. Read for fun! Whether your child is in the mood for holiday stories or the newest installment from a favorite series, winter break provides the perfect opportunity to set aside school books and read for fun. Make time for bedtime stories to create the routine and enjoy books on a daily basis.
2. Stock up on books at the local library. Help your child pick out books they’re interested in reading over the winter break. Libraries may also have fun, free holiday activities throughout the break.
3. Make the most of travel time. Turn travel time to or from a holiday get-together into an opportunity to practice reading. You can look for license plates from different states, try to find the alphabet on the license plates, or count the number of red (or white or green) cars you see. Read street signs and billboards you see along the way.
4. Create a new tradition. A little predictability is comforting for kids. Starting a special Winter Break Story Time can be a new tradition that links reading with happy memories. Hot cocoa and your favorite stories will have the whole family feeling comfy and cozy, while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to help your child with reading. By simply interacting with children around books, you can show them that books are important and worthy of our attention.

"Watch" What You Read

This month, our school is participating in the KUED Reading Marathon.  Students will track their reading minutes at home on the bright pink reading log they received from school.  Those who meet their grade's reading minutes goal for the month will be eligible to attend an extra special reading celebration sponsored by KUED!  The theme of the party is "Watch What You Read: Celebrating Our Favorite Books-Turned-Into-Movies."

In keeping with our marathon theme, below is a link to great article on how watching a movie after reading the book can be a big motivator for kids.  It can be very educational, too.  After seeing the movie, take time to compare and contrast the book and movie.  Talk about the characters, setting, and plot.  Go to https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/read-watch-motivate-movies.html for a list of books/movies to check out and for more ideas.

Supporting Children's Early Reading Skills

Here are some things parents can do to help students to become good readers.

1. Teaching literacy isn’t different than teaching other skills.

Make reading a pleasant experience rather than a chore and your child will develop a good attitude about literacy.

2. Talk to your kids (a lot).

Studies have shown that exposure to spoken language helps children in the development of literacy skills.

3. Read to your kids.

Reading to kids can have positive impacts on their language, intelligence, and later literacy achievement. 

4. Have them tell you a “story.”

Have your child tell you a story.  Write it down, and then read it aloud. Point at the words when you read them, or point at them when your child is trying to read them.

5. Teach phonemic awareness.

Try using an activity like "Sound Boxes" to count the sounds in a word (see http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/elkonin_boxes to learn how).  Or use a rubber band or a Slinky to stretch the sounds in a word.

6. Listen to your child read.

When your child starts bringing books home from school, have her read to you. If it doesn’t sound good (mistakes, choppy reading), have her read it again. Or read it to her, and then have her try to read it herself. Studies show that this kind of repeated oral reading makes students better readers, even when it is done at home.

7. Ask questions.

When your child reads, get her to retell the story or information and answer questions about what she read to build comprehension.

8. Make reading a regular activity in your home.

Make reading a part of your daily life, and kids will learn to love it. Set aside some time when everyone turns off the TV and the web and does nothing but read. Make it fun, too. The point is to make reading a regular enjoyable part of your family routine.

Go to http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/shanahan-literacy/11-ways-parents-can-help-their-children-read to learn more.

Reading Incentive

Enterprise Elementary is very fortunate to have a wonderful PTA!  They have been so supportive of our school's Reading Incentive program!  This year, as in years past, they will sponsor an end-of-year party at Fiesta Fun Center in St. George for all of the students in grades 1-6 who meet certain reading goals.  We encourage everyone to read throughout the year and to accurately record and turn in their reading minutes.  For those who do this, there are several incentives such as fun monthly parties, drawings for prizes, and the chance to be one of the monthly "Principals for the Day".  The Fiesta party, however, is a special privilege for students who have met the extra requirements outlined  in the "Reading is a Party Program" letter. Not all students will qualify to go to Fiesta . . . only those who have gone above and beyond the basic expectation. In all fairness to the PTA who is footing the bill for the party, as well as to the other students who have worked extra hard to qualify for the Fiesta trip, we would encourage parents and students to honor the rules of the program. If you have any questions, check the "Reading is a Party Program" letter on this blog page.  Thank you for your support!  Let's keep reading!