This article states past research on Reading and then gives ideas on how to implement them in the home. For example, "The more children read, the better they get at it. The more opportunities they have to engage in reading, the more children will pursue reading on their own." Some activities it gives parents are: have the child interview a parent to find out why kinds of

reading and writing he/she does everyday such as making lists, reading take-out menus, crossword puzzles, newspaper, etc.

(K. Michele Boston).

This article begins by outlining the difference between children 20 or 50 years ago and children of today when it comes to reading. The author points to the hectic lives of our children today and how it affects reading in the home, specifically reading for pleasure and not just as a school assignment. She then goes on to lay out a plan for community, parental, and school involvement in making reading important in children's lives. The author gives very specific ideas for the media, parents, and schools for promoting reading. One of the most powerful comments she makes is, "If we can sell shoes or hamburgers or T-shirts to our children, then certainly we can sell reading as effectively." This article is definitely worth reading. (Dara Fish)

It is certainly true that children today are very different in their interests and attention spans than children from 50, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago.  But, as the article points out, it is not all that difficult to make something traditional like reading seem cool to kids in today's technology-laden society.  Parents can become involved in many aspects of their children's assignments and school-wide activities.  Hopefully, the ways in which reading is represented by parents, teachers, librarians, and other adult figures can inspire kids that reading is worth their time.  (Heather Brower)

This article is very informative and makes one stop and realize how much more reading was done for enjoyment back 10 to 20 years ago.  In this new era children have more things to do that are presented in a more engaging way. It is our job now to make reading more engaging to children today.  We need to celebrate their reading and show them that reading is the cool thing to do.  I love the way that this article suggests the many ways for this to be done.  As they say it takes a village to raise a child well it also takes a village to motivate our children into reading once again. (Christina Blankenship)

This article begins by talking about how busy we are today and how little time today's children spend on reading at home. The research proves that "students who are avid readers come from homes in which reading is encouraged by a parent, grandparent, older brother or sister, or even a babysitter." It also said we need to create a world of readers, not just a school yard full of them. It also gives ideas for promoting reading at home and in school, such as provide books for both parents and children to read at home, create a "welcoming" space in the classroom for reading, etc. (K. Michele Boston)

In today’s world, reading has to compete with the faced paced lives of families and with technology that entices children away from books. The article does a good job of giving examples of way that the school community can become involved and promote reading. It also points out that in order for children to value reading, they must see reading as more than a class in school. Parents that read to children and with their children is the key to creating life long readers. (Roberta T.)

This article is about how busy our lives have become and the impact on children reading at home or not reading at home because of our busy lives. The research proves what many of us see in our classrooms-that the children who read at home are the better readers and the more avid readers. It has some good suggestions on how to promote reading at home, but in my opinion, the low children lack the parent support at home and also a home library. The article does point out ways for the community to become involved and the low children are the ones that need the communities help. (Christy Dameron)

This article discusses how hectic the lives of families and children have become. It suggests that people who surround children demostrate the act of reading and proclaim its importance. A few suggestions for doing this include; broadcasting the power of reading though the media, promoting reading at home by encouraging parents to be reading role models for their children, and promoting reading at school through motivational programs. I would recommend printing this article and making it available for co-workers and parents to read. (Michelle Bender)

“Create a world of readers, not just a school yard full of them.” I have often thought that in our product filled lives, the corporate and media support toward promoting value for reading should be enhanced. This article addressed just that. How clever the quote “reading is more than a subject in school but also a valuable part of every facet of life”. However, it is also mentioned that parents should be the first to introduce the love of words and books to their children. We must also realize that once a child enters school, “intergenerational learning is often said to be bidirectional. Sharing books among families is the ultimate goal, even if it takes the child to introduce the parent to books. (Roberta Hudgins)

Many children today are accustomed to having instant everything. They don't take time to sit and read for pleasure or information for any length of time. Also, reading, or the importance of it, doesn't seem to be modeled for them in the home. The article mentions that the act of reading has to be not only encouraged but also demonstrated by "all people and elements that surround children." The parents and families of the children must play the key role or these efforts may not succeed. Children often view reading as just another subject in school. They must realize that there is a purpose for reading and "make the connections between reading and their won lives." (Jeanne Sasser)

This article was interesting overall, but it stated what we already know about about most of our good readers-they read at home and what we know about many of our low readers-they don't read at home. Unfortunately our low readers don't have good home libraries and don't visit the Public Library. It would be nice if we had more community help with this. (Carolyn Conner)