Growing Readers

At Roberta MacAdams
School
Dear Families

The children at Roberta MacAdams School are actively engaged in “Home Reading”
across the school year with an emphasis on fostering a love of reading and an
appreciation for a wide variety of literature. As we nurture our children toward
becoming lifelong readers, there is important research to acknowledge in the area of
literacy development. “Children benefit from daily opportunities to read books they
choose for themselves for their own purposes and pleasures,” (Lucy Calkins, 2001).
This means that your child may choose a book that is “just right” (a book they can read
smoothly, with confidence and understanding) and, they may also choose a book they
love which you may read aloud to them or “share read” together.

In the teaching of reading, literacy experts (Allington, Calkins, Fountas & Pinnell, and
Fox) agree that children need to listen to the best of children’s literature read aloud
to them. After evaluating ten thousand research studies, the Department of Education’s
Commission on Reading issued a report, Becoming a Nation of Readers, which goes so
far as to state that “The single most important activity for building the knowledge
required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” (Anderson,
Hiebert, Scott and Wilkinson) in Calkins, 2001. The study found “conclusive evidence”
supporting reading aloud in the home and in the classroom, and emphasized the
importance of adults reading aloud to children not just when children cannot yet read on
their own, but throughout all the grades.

Creating a Literate Environment in the Home

One way to create an environment that supports reading is to

make sure it is impossible to avoid books. Helping children
fall in love with books is one of the biggest reasons for reading
aloud. It is crucial that reading times be comfortable, intimate,
playful and warm occasions.

Our goal is to work together with you so that we can

encourage your child’s love of books. Valuing “Home
Reading” across the school year will allow you to share a
beautiful experience with your child every day.