Long Meadow Elementary School Holds Literacy Night for Parents of Kindergartners and First Graders

   In an effort to bridge the home-school connection and help parents understand the complexity of the reading process, Long Meadow Elementary School reading and teaching staff hosted a Kindergarten – Grade 1 Literacy Night on October 18, 2007.

   Barbara Mikush, Reading Consultant, Sarah Moriera, Speech and Language Pathologist, Mo Gibbs, School Psychologist, and the Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers organized the literacy event.

   “We showed parents how to do a book introduction and how to lead a child through the problem-solving process at points of difficulty,” said Mrs. Mikush.

    The K-1 Literacy Night started about six years ago at Long Meadow Elementary School, and has evolved into a very interactive and hands-on parent workshop. 

    Throughout the evening, parents participated in decoding, fluency and comprehension activities that replicated what it is like to be a beginning or struggling reader. Prior to each activity, parents were given information regarding the relevancy to the reading process. Each activity was followed up with suggestions about how to help in that particular area of the reading.

    Other topics and activities covered included a demonstration on how to read aloud to one’s child, shared reading (book selections that are predictable enough for your child to join in reading with you), information on the brain provided by the school psychologist, and a modeled guided reading lesson with children. 

    Parents registered their children for child care upon arrival which was provided by several of the fifth-grade Long Meadow Leaders and parent volunteers. 

    “I hope parents will leave with, not only the necessary strategies to help their beginning readers, but also how to create in their children, a true love for reading,” said Mrs. Mikush.