by Annette Lyon

I found my son staying up well past his bedtime, a book hidden under his covers. With a stern voice, I reminded him that it was a school night.

“Can I finish this chapter? Pleeeeease?” he begged.

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I turned a page in my life today. As I write this, it’s the first day of school. I sent three kids off to school this morning, leaving me with only two little ones at home for six hours. This year, I don’t have a kindergartener, tying me to three daily bus schedules. Nor do I have a newborn, tying me to nap schedules and nursing times in between three bus schedules.

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By Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

You can lead a horse to water . . . but you can’t make him drink. Unfortunately, this statement is applicable all too often to children within the public school system. The first week of school, I asked students in my reading class to share the titles of ten books they had either read by themselves, or that someone had read to them, which they would recommend to others. Several of these eighth and ninth grade students admitted they had never read an entire book on their own. They have been expected to read throughout their school career. How does it happen that they get to junior high school without having read?

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by Pam Ellis

The new school year provides the opportunity for college students to become involved in their local Institute program. LDS students have the added benefit of this educational, spiritual, social, and service-focused organization where they can—according to the Las Vegas NV Institute website— find “hope and power as they study the gospel, joy and satisfaction as they give their time in service to others, and love and friendship as they associate with others in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

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by Annette Lyon

My fourth-grade daughter tested above grade level on reading tests.

Then why was I pulling my hair out trying to get her to open a book at home? Any attempt to push an easy chapter book into her hands was met with a brick wall of resistance. I knew that if she didn’t learn to read, and enjoy reading, she’d have a harder time in school, college, and life.

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