At Craigburn we are passionate about encouraging our students to read for pleasure and get hooked into a good book.
This month Scholastic is running their Read More In May Family Reading Initiative and we encourage families to take part.
We believe that all children, with the help of their families and reading role models, can benefit from a lifelong love of reading. This year marks the 29th Scholastic’s National Family Reading Month (NFRM), which encourages families to read together on a regular basis to create strong reading habits. Most of us know how important reading together is and its long-term value to our children’s success in school and in life. However, we also know it is not always that easy to put into practice with our busy schedules and increasing competition with screen time. We encourage you to take part in the 31-Day Challenge—to inspire you to make reading together for at least 10 minutes every day a focus, to create positive, long lasting reading habits and lifelong readers!
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You can download forms from this blog, direct from the Scholastic Website or students can collect a copy from the school library.
You don’t have to register to with Scholastic to take part, but if you choose to there is a chance to win a fantastic prize from Scholastic.
Students who complete the challenge & hand their forms into the school library by Friday 6th June with their name and class number clearly displayed, will go in the draw to win a school prize: – A Scholastic Book voucher for our Book Club.
For further information on the benefits of reading together please read the following article from the Scholastic website:
Power of Family Reading
1. Reading Develops Language Skills
Listening to stories sparks incredible brain development at any age. Even before they speak, children embark on a journey of language learning by absorbing the conversations around them and building their comprehension and vocabulary. Sharing books with them expands their horizons, introducing a rich tapestry of words and language structures.
2. Reading Strengthens Concentration Muscles
Reading is a vital journey for many reasons, one of the most important being its power to foster concentration. When children engage in reading or listen to stories, they learn to calm their minds and focus their attention with purpose. This practice, repeated over time, enhances their concentration skills. Concentrating is crucial; it is the foundation for learning new ideas, reflecting deeply, thinking critically, solving problems creatively, and bringing forth new creations.
3. Reading Teaches Life Lessons
Reading is a powerful tool for imparting life lessons to children. It offers a unique opportunity to discuss real-world issues in a manner suited to their age. While navigating difficult or sensitive topics can be challenging, sharing a book on a particular subject brings comfort and paves the way for meaningful conversations.
Reading also opens up new worlds, broadening their horizons while introducing them to diverse places, ideas, and people. Children cultivate empathy, compassion, respect, and understanding. They learn to embrace different viewpoints and celebrate differences, enhancing their overall understanding of the world around them.
4. Reading Develops Creativity
Reading books opens up an exciting new world for your child. Countless stories about talking pets, dinosaurs, bugs, and fairy tales await them. Unlike watching TV, reading encourages children to visualise characters and events, igniting their imaginations. As children grow, their creativity blossoms, driven by their vivid imaginations.
5. Reading Improves Literacy Skills
Reading is a powerful way to enhance literacy skills.Regular family reading time can help c cultivate strong language abilities, enrich student’s vocabularies, and deepen their reading comprehension.
- Vocabulary stands as a pillar of literacy. Exposing children to a diverse range of words in different contexts opens doors to endless possibilities. Just 10 minutes of reading each day can introduce children to about 600,000 words in a year, while 20 minutes can expose them to an astonishing 1,800,000 words.
- Comprehension allows children to grasp complex ideas and themes. Family reading time invites parents to ask thought-provoking questions, guiding children’s attention to important concepts. As they grow, children need practice with longer texts, learning to track storylines and characters while contemplating underlying themes.
6. Reading for Fun Promotes Emotional Well-being
Reading for enjoyment is a wonderful way to connect with your family and create lasting memories together. It offers incredible benefits for both children and adults, enhancing literacy skills, cognitive development, emotional well-being, and family bonds.
Family reading time enriches your child’s emotional well-being by providing comfort and security. It opens the door for parents to discuss sensitive topics in a nurturing environment. Sharing stories during challenging times can be a transformative way to find peace and resilience together.
We hope you and your family enjoy the 2025 Scholastic Read More In May initiative.
Krysten & Emily – Library SSO’s
