When your child steps into his or her Kindergarten classroom for the first time, it will be a brand new experience. This short video will show you exactly what a typical day will be like for your new Kindergartener. The more you know, the better you can prepare your child. Call today to order your free DVD.
Literacy is the Key to
Academic Success
Your child's reading and writing skills may be the most
important
factors affecting the course of his or her
achievement in school —
and in life. That's why NH State PIRC puts a high priority on literacy
skills. We especially focus on the parent-child relationship beginning from birth, where parental efforts to instill a rich awareness of words and a love of books can have such a profound effect on your child's later development. The time, love, and attention you give your your child today can make all the difference in his or her self-confidence and readiness to tackle the social and academic challenges of school.
NH State PIRC offers a wide variety of workshops and resources designed to support parents in establishing a healthy learning habit from birth, and continuing on through high school. Click on the links below to learn more about what we have to offer.
Workshops for Parents of Children Birth-5
Bonding With Books
Early exposure to books can develop a lifelong love of reading. Learn activities and techniques that help you rediscover the joys of reading with your child. Review the ways children gradually acquire literacy skills and discuss how to match books to the interest and developmental stages of children in the early childhood years. Birth to Kindergarten.
Creating Literacy-Rich Environments*
This workshop helps participants create an environment that encourages young children to explore and make discoveries about language and literacy through play, routines and other daily experiences. Learn how to use pictures, books and song to individualize the environment in response to culture, personal interests and language.
Reading Aloud*
Reading aloud to young children is one of the most effective ways to support language and literacy development. Children who are read to from infancy associate reading with pleasant, warm feelings. This workshop focuses on reading aloud in a way that engages and actively involves young children.
Where Conversation Leads*
Children begin to learn about conversation in infancy when their families and caregivers respond to their sounds and gestures and play games and sing songs with them. This workshop focuses on engaging children as equal partners in conversation and encouraging children to build listening and speaking skills as a tool for thinking and learning.
Making My Mark: The Writing Connection*
Children pass through stages as they develop drawing and writing skills. Writing helps children develop an awareness of how print is organized and used and how it is related to spoken words. Learn how you can support children's growth from early scribbling to learning to write their name.
Supporting Language and Literacy Every Day*
Language and literacy skills are connected to more than just reading. There are many activities during the day that provide an opportunity to have fun with words. Learn how to promote literacy in a wide range of activities from pretend play, to self expression, to painting, to finger plays, songs, and more.
Make Reading Fun: Creating Your Own Books
This interactive workshop provides ideas, tools and materials for parents to learn how to make simple books. No matter what your comfort level is with reading, making a book and sharing a story with a young child is a fast (and easy) way to help children grow to love books. Leave this workshop with a hand made gift for your young child.
Interactive Reading: Storybooks and Storytelling
This workshop instills lasting, positive affection toward books! It expands on what a book offers to increase learning, communication, and vocabulary. Participants learn to talk about the words, pictures, and even the design of the book with their young children. Attendees also go home with their own new book to start using their new skills right away!
* Developed by the national organization Reading is Fundamental.
The above-listed workshops are offered through our Let's Read Together Literacy Volunteer Outreach program. For more information about these workshops, contact Kimm Phillips at 848-5446 or LetsReadTogether@nhpirc.org. or visit the this page.
Preschool and School-age Literacy
Preschool Literacy
It is never too early to read with your child. This interactive workshop helps parents identify key pre-reading skills that are essential to future reading success. It provides hands-on activities and ideas on how to be more involved in helping your child learn to read.
Kindergarten Literacy
This interactive workshop helps parents understand the five key reading skills and the concepts that are taught in Kindergarten. You will learn how a child learns to read, with hands-on activities and ideas on how you can be more involved with helping your child learn to read.
Interactive Reading – Storybooks and Story Telling
This workshop instills lasting, positive affection toward books! It expands on what a book offers to increase learning, communication, and vocabulary. Participants learn to talk about the words, pictures, and even the design of the book. Participants go home with their own interactive reading book. Grades K-3, for Teachers & Parents.
Interactive Reading – Building Blocks for Reading Skills
This workshop promotes the 5 components of learning to read —phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Participants are guided to choose activities that follow the reading ability of the child. These skills can be used to assist children in developing or enhancing reading skills. Grades pre-K thru 3, Parents & Teachers.
Let’s Read Together (DVD)
A short DVD to show you how you can best help your child develop a love for books and learn important reading skills at home. Learn what the four parts of the “reading puzzle” are and what types of activities solve this puzzle both at home and in the classroom.
Talk With Me, Read With Me, Sing With Me (DVD)
Watch real kids with their parents and learn ways to encourage your child’s pre-reading skills. Whether your child is an infant, toddler or preschooler, there is great information to help you become more knowledgable. This DVD was designed so you can watch the section that pertains to your child’s age and abilities.
Nursery Rhyme Songs (audio CD)
Did you ever wonder what the point was of singing those silly rhyming songs as a child? The songs on this CD will help your child develop phonological awareness, which is the awareness that the letters within the alphabet have different sounds. Strong phonological awareness sets the groundwork for children to be great readers.
Please call (800) 947-7005 to order your free copy of these resources.
Interactive Reading – Storybooks and Story Telling
This workshop instills lasting, positive affection toward books! It expands on what a book offers to increase learning, communication, and vocabulary. Participants learn to talk about the words, pictures, and even the design of the book. Participants go home with their own interactive reading book. Grades K-3, for Teachers & Parents.
Interactive Reading – Building Blocks for Reading Skills
This workshop promotes the 5 components of learning to read —phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Participants are guided to choose activities that follow the reading ability of the child. These skills can be used to assist children in developing or enhancing reading skills. Grades pre-K thru 3, Parents & Teachers.
Reading at Home (Solid Foundation)
This 3-session course includes storytelling, family reading activities, interactive reading, work—sound exercises, and methods for reading to learn. Grades K-3, for Parents and Teachers.
Motivating Your Middle School Reader
Keep your child motivated to read and learn how to help him/her select suitable reading materials. This workshop will help you understand the needs of the middle school child and find solutions to overcome their excuses for not reading. Parents of Grades 5-8
Please call (800) 947-7005 to find out more about these workshops or to organize a workshop in your area.
Thinking Outside the Books: Helping Your Teen Find the FUN in Reading
This DVD features parents and students sharing their thoughts about why reading is important, how to get started, and why good questions promote interest and critical thinking. For more information, see the article on this page below.
School Readiness: The Key to Self-Confidence
Communities across NH are making kindergarten a regular offering for children because the research is clear: the better a child is prepared for grade school, the better he or she will enjoy school, do well academically, and fit in socially. Students who start school unprepared — even though they may be equally intelligent — are more apt to fall behind their classmates and have more difficulty adjusting to school or experiencing success.
Click on the links below to learn more about what NH State PIRC has to offer for helping parents and teachers prepare children for enjoying and succeeding in school.
Ready Here I Come!
This is a course for parents of preschoolers. The course teaches 15 family activities that help children develop gross-motor skills, fine-motor skills, language, visual discrimination, and memory. All of these skills are presented within the context of play, everyday tasks, and preparation for school.
Bonding With Books
Early exposure to books can develop a lifelong love of reading. Learn activities and techniques that help you rediscover the joys of reading with your child. Review the ways children gradually acquire literacy skills and discuss how to match books to the interest and developmental stages of children in the early childhood years. Birth-K.
Preschool Literacy
It is never too early to read with your child. This interactive workshop helps parents identify key pre-reading skills that are essential to future reading success. It provides hands-on activities and ideas on how to be more involved in helping your child learn to read. Pre-School.
Please call (800) 947-7005 to learn more or to organize a workshop in your area.
- "I'm ready for School When...." activity booklet [download: single-page version | booklet version] (Spanish-English version coming soon)
- Phonological Awareness for Kindergarten (click here for Spanish version)
- Preparing Your Preschooler for Kindergarten (literacy focus)
- The 5 Elements of Reading
More tip sheets coming soon!
Nursery Rhyme Songs (audio CD)
Did you ever wonder what the point was of singing those silly rhyming songs as a child? The songs on this CD will help your child develop phonological awareness, which is the awareness that the letters within the alphabet have different sounds. Strong phonological awareness sets the groundwork for children to be great readers.
Welcome to Kindergarten (DVD)
When your child steps into their Kindergarten classroom for the first time, it will be a brand new experience.This short video will show you exactly what a typical day will be like for your new Kindergartener. The more you know, the better you can prepare your child.
Talk With Me, Read With Me, Sing With Me (DVD)
Watch real kids with their parents and learn ways to encourage your child’s pre-reading skills. Whether your child is an infant, toddler or preschooler, there is great information to help you become more knowledgable. This DVD was designed so you can watch the section that pertains to your child’s age and abilities.
Please call (800) 947-7005 to order your free copy of these resources.
Thinking Outside the Books DVD:
How to Motivate Your Middle School Reader
How often do you examine every day words and have conversation about every day events? When did you last analyze an entertaining comic strip, a prominent billboard, a current song lyric, a riveting short story, or a controversial sports review? Motivating young people to read is sometimes an uphill battle.
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Are you interested in motivating middle school or high school students to get more engaged in reading? In the free PIRC DVD "Thinking Outside the Books: Helping Your Teen Find the FUN in Reading," you will hear parents and students share their thoughts about why reading is important, how to get started, and why good questions promote interest and critical thinking. Some thoughts from today's youth on this DVD include:
- You read to enjoy." – Michael, age 15
- I like to read everything…I just love books in general." – Tracy, age 17
- If you can find something you are genuinely interested in…you are going to want to read it." – Melissa, age 14
- I think you have to ask the question, do you not read because it difficult or because you don't like the book? If reading difficult, there are other options, like books on tape or CD. In the end, it is not about getting the book in front of you, it is about listening, gaining knowledge, and making your mind think" – Sasha, age 16
- I like to read books that give me a lot of emotion. I really like mysteries because when you get to the end of the chapter, you just can't put the book down!" Alissa, age 15
- The motivation behind writing (a book) or presenting the information is really important on telling how truthful it is." – Sasha, age 16
- One way to encourage young people to read is to make it more social…like a book club, because they love to interact. Read a book, have a discussion, and hang out with your friends! – Sasha, age 16
- When I was little my dad used to read to us every night. From elementary school on, he used to say, 'Read 15 minutes every night. Since he pushed me to do that, I started to find out what I was really interested in and the kind of books I like to read. Now I read a lot…. I let it (reading) take me into my own little world." - Alissa, age 14
- I really like it when people read aloud to me." – Alissa, age 14
- I think it is very important to find things out for yourself. That is how you grow as a person. You could just tell a 3 year old anything, they will believe you. But as an adult you have to find stuff out for yourself. You don't just believe what everyone tells you." - Tracy, age 17
- Everyone has something that they enjoy. Everyone has their own little niche. I think if they can find that interesting topic, they are going to pick up a book and read about it! – Michael, age 15
