I was a slow reader. And at the end of 1st grade, despite the best efforts of teachers at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School #232 (and a lot of help from my teacher mom), I could not “crack the reading code.” After much consideration and outreach to our family for some financial help, my parents decided to send me to private school. They understood that if I did not become proficient in reading, I would begin to fall behind.
So that fall, I started school at Samuel Ready School for Girls. It was there, under the tutelage of Mrs. Charlotte Beam, that I learned to read.
I had a similar experience with my two children. One was reading chapter books in 1st grade and happily attending our local public school. But our second child struggled academically in the same school. So when she was in 4th grade, we moved her to a private school, where their experiential approach to learning was just what she needed to unlock her mind and propel her learning.
Although school choice can be about many things – escaping an underperforming public school or needing a more structured program – it can also be about creating a “Love of Learning” to coin a Montessori-influenced slogan.
With that theme in mind, I am happy to share this Harvard Graduate School of Education SlideShare on what parents and educators can do to promote reading for fun throughout students’ academic development.
Since students who don’t read proficiently by 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, this slideshow is a great resource for parents and teachers to use to increase the chance for education success.