Empowering Early Literacy with Content and Resources for Young Learners

Too Much Screen Time or Not Enough?

We live in an age in which it is nearly impossible to escape interacting with electronics. The time spent in front of these electronic devices, sometimes referred to as “screen time,” is increasing with each passing year. As adults, it’s not unusual for many of us to spend the majority of our working day using a computer, not to mention constantly checking our cell phones throughout the day. Likewise, our children’s use of electronics is increasing, and they’re starting earlier and earlier these days. Therefore, it is useful to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of “screen time” for our children.

By Melissa Maypole, ago

Fostering Fluency – Reading Essentials #20

Can you imagine trying to read a good novel and having to stop to sound out every other word? How frustrating would that be? Well, that’s exactly the challenge your little one faces as he strives to become a proficient reader. In order to truly comprehend and enjoy what he’s reading, he will need to acquire fluency—the ability to read words and sentences accurately, at a reasonably quick pace, and without the need to stop to decode individual words.

By Tammy Bennecke, ago

Don’t Forget to Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Today!

Today is a day that is very DEAR to our hearts here at Red Apple Reading. It is so DEAR in fact that we would be DEARly disappointed if you didn’t help us celebrate. You see, today is not only DEAR children’s book author Beverly Clearly’s birthday, but it’s also national Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Day. Unless you have school-aged kids, then this may be your very first DEAR celebration, which makes it that much more special of course! According to the official DEAR website, all you have to do to participate is to read for 30 minutes today, but you do that every day, right? So, why not go all out? Here are some ideas for making Drop Everything and Read Day an experience that’s sure to become a DEAR memory for your little one.

By Melissa Maypole, ago

The Art of Reading Aloud to Your Child

Whether your child is three or thirteen, reading aloud to (or with) him is a great way to promote literacy skills while enjoying some time together as well. If you’ve never thought about reading aloud as an art, however, you might want to reconsider what story-time really means. Short of visiting an elementary school class to see a real artist at work, implementing a few simple strategies can help you turn read-alouds at your house from fun to fabulous!

By Melissa Maypole, ago

Bullying: What You Can Do About It

Like most moms and dads, I happen to think my children are awesome. They’re cute, funny, and smart. I can’t imagine why anyone of any age wouldn’t want to hang out with them. I certainly can’t fathom why another kid would tease them at school, but bullying exists, and like other evils, it defies logic. Understanding why it happens may be helpful for the long-term, but in the short-term, we parents need to empower our children by preparing them for the worst.

By Melissa Maypole, ago

How to Communicate With Your Child’s Teachers: The Dos and Don’ts

We all know that parent-teacher communication is important. After all, in the ideal scenario, you and your child’s teacher will be partnering together throughout the year to help your child achieve his full potential. So, how do you ensure that the line of communication between you and your kid’s teacher is a clear and open one? Consider the following Dos and Don’ts.

By Melissa Maypole, ago

3 Cool Tips for Springtime Reading

Spring is here—finally! Time to open the windows and break out the sandals. Moms and dads usually love this time of year because it means that kids can unglue themselves from the TV and spend less time underfoot and more time outdoors. While reading certainly makes a great cold-weather activity, be sure to keep up a regimen of daily reading during the Spring months as well. To help you out, here are a few tips for making sure your little one stays on top of her literacy game during warmer weather.

By Melissa Maypole, ago