Posted:  April 29, 2011

Join us for the "10 at 10"
10 minutes of reading at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 27, 2011

We invite the Irving community to join every student and teacher in Irving ISD to stop what you are doing and read for 10 minutes at 10 a.m. on May 27 to help kick off Irving Reads!

Join the Summer Fun!

Dear Families:

Our students learn at home as well as school, especially during the summer break.  That’s why we are providing these books...and asking for your help...so your children are ready for the next grade level when they return in August.

This pack of books and activities is specially designed to keep your children motivated and learning over the summer.  We hope it provides you with a great opportunity for quality time with your children while building their comprehension, vocabulary and mastery in both reading and math.  Please review the parent tips below for some great ideas.

At Irving ISD, “Our House Is Your House.”  That means we must work together to educate your child, whether it’s at school, home, the library or perhaps a family vacation. So please use these books and join the summer fun!

Sincerely,
Dr. Dana T. Bedden
Superintendent of Schools

Irving Reads! Media Sponsors

Goals of Irving Reads!

1. To encourage students to become lifelong readers.

2. To improve critical thinking skills through reading and math activities.

3. To promote collaboration across the home, school and community.

4. To expose students to a diversity of authors, characters and perspectives.

5. To increase math skills through a variety of activities and repetition.

Parent Tips for Students Pre-K through Grade 7

1. Predicting.
   Look at the book cover together and predict what the book is about.

2. Reread familiar books.
   Children need practice reading comfortably and with expression using books and activities they know and enjoy.

3. Repeat math problems.  
   Children need to practice problems they previously had difficulty working.

4. Build reading accuracy.
   As your child is reading aloud, point out words he/she misses and help him/her read words correctly.  If you stop to focus on a word, have your child reread the entire sentence to be sure he/she understands the meaning.

5. Practice for understanding.
   Have your child focus on the practice of solving a math problem, not just getting the correct answer.

6. Build reading comprehension.
   Talk with your child about what he/she is reading.  Talk about what happened in the story.  Ask about characters, places and events that take place. Ask what new information he/she has learned from the book. 

7. Share conversations.
   During meal times or any time you are together, include your child in the conversation.  Children learn words more easily when they hear them spoken often. Children learn math more easily when they see and learn how it connects to the real word. Allow them to speak and respond directly to what they have said.

8. Do something together every day. 
   Spend time talking about stories, pictures and words. Work math problems into your everyday routine, such a a trip to the grocery store or ATM machine. This is precious time together with huge rewards later in life.

9. Be your child’s best advocate.
   Stay informed about your child’s progress in reading and math. Ask for teacher conferences if you feel it’s necessary.

10. Be a reader, writer and mathematician. 
    Children learn habits from role models around them. Share what you’re reading or a math problem you are solving

11. Be positive about math.
    Tell children regularly they can do math and they are good at it. Make it a positive, fun experience, not a dreaded one.

12. Visit your library often.
    Families may use this opportunity to engage in story time, use the computers and receive help with homework...and check out books that are available to improve math or simply a story on a topic your child enjoys.