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Aug 2006 Issue
by Tina Scott
My children are reluctant readers. It seems their favorite thing to read is the TV guide. Yet, regardless of their rolling eyes and whining, each summer we read for fun (I use the term loosely). To promote literacy and learning in our home, we sign up for the library’s reading program. My children are encouraged by mapping their progress and the little prizes the library offers. They love to check out stacks of books; sometimes they read them all, and sometimes they don’t. Either way, it makes us feel literary.
I enjoy reading to my children. They are usually receptive to this idea, and it has become a family tradition. Growing up, my mother read to me in the evenings until she fell asleep. I remember being impatient as I kept having to nudge her awake. Now my kids occasionally do the same for me.
One activity the kids love is reading to their dad on Sunday mornings before church. He listens as they read several stories out of their church magazine. This is their special time together.
Still, in this fast paced world of video games, I find it hard to compete. Moments of silent reading while perched from the branch of a tree aren’t as alluring as building new worlds, or as thrilling as driving a virtually real race car. Fortunately, I no longer need to rely on my own intelligence and resourcefulness to teach my children. I’ve discovered the Internet is a valuable teaching aid. Here are a few sites I’ve found useful and fun:
On www.bookadventure.org the kids can set up their own page, create new characters, choose their reading level, and pick books they want to check out at the library. After they read the book, they go back to the site and take a short test. Sponsors of the site offer rewards with prizes and coloring pages to download.
School districts are also a good resource; mine has a study program willing parents can install onto their computers. Each day my children can come here to work on language skills, math or biology. Then I go in as the teacher and check the work they’ve done.
My teenage son is taking a free Internet typing course at: www.goodtyping.com. He’s always wanted to learn how to use the keyboard properly, but he has too many other classes he’d rather take during the school year. This new skill will help him create a more successful school life.
www.math.com is a great site for learning math, and playing puzzle games. It’s geared for all age levels. I even come to this site to sharpen my own math skills. During the school year, if I’m not able to help my children with their math homework, they can come here for help.
Another site that I find useful is the Internet Public Library, www.ipl.org. I use it mainly as a resource for finding arts and crafts projects. However, the information available here is virtually limitless. In KidSpace (which is the link I use), there are many other links for health and nutrition, art and music, math, science and also Funstuff, which includes links for crafts, games and jokes.
My children might always roll their eyes at me when I try to get them to read or study. But, with resources like these available, I’m hoping they will develop a lifelong love for learning and literacy.
Tina Scott is a member of the Thatcher 7th Ward, Thatcher Arizona Stake.
