Introduction

Welcome
To the 1^st issue of the Lanark, Leeds & Grenville Chapter of O.A.F.C.C.D.’s Newsletter! The           Newsletter  will be published 4 times per year and hopefully grow from 2 pages to numerous pages.
If you have any articles or suggestions for future issues please submit to Susan Richards or Connie Beckett.
Enjoy!!!

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1997 Membership Fees Due!

Membership Fees and donations are currently our only source of operating funds. Your membership Fees are very important to us and we need you to send your membership fees as soon as possible. If you have not yet joined, please do so as soon as possible. The Annual Membership Fee is only $15.00 ($5 of which goes to the local Chapter) . So please pay today!!

NOTE: Fees will be waived upon request.

Please complete and send this notice to make sure that your membership information is correct. Return to OAFCCD, Sharen Heath, 13 Segal Dr., Tillsonburg, Ont., N4G 4P4

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Phone:___________________________________________________________
 

Parent: ___                     Professional: ___ Specify:______________________

New Member: ___ Renewal: ___

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Internet Web Site

Be sure to visit our Web Site at

http://www.byfalls.com/oafccd/lanark

Here you will find information on Our local chapter

• The Ontario chapter
• Upcoming events and meetings
• Pictures of our children
• Inspirational Poems & stories
• Many links to other sites dealing with Special Needs

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Upcoming Meetings

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Caring For Kids

Reprinted from article in  Smiths Falls EMC by Pankow & Pankow

Cuts to education funding have many parents and teachers concerned. Class sizes are on the rise and thus individual student attention is on the decrease.

As such, a number of parents of young children have contacted us in recent weeks about concerns with reading. As the school year begins, teachers and parents struggle to engage young children in the reading process. Parents sometimes find it difficult to find enough time in the day to give each child the individual time she needs; and the child can become frustrated because everyone is so concerned and she is being pulled in all directions.

There are four levels of learning fundamental to early childhood education. They are knowledge, skills, dispositions and feelings (Katz, 1988). All four of these areas can be increased through literature. Learning to figure out words is the result of knowledge and skill . A disposition towards reading comes from having watched others read. A child who feels reading is interesting and pleasurable begins school with a great advantage.

Some ideas to encourage and increase literacy are:

• Keep the television off. Read instead.

• Modelling is key. Let your child see you read. Let your child hear you read. Tell them about what you read during the day.

• Always encourage reading. While driving down the street, read signs; while making supper, read labels. Show your child the practical uses of reading.

• Big voice, little voice can be a great strategy with familiar stories. The parent read with a normal (big) voice, the child follows along with a whisper (little) voice gaining confidence and rhythm as they go.

• Encourage your child to read, to tell stories, to talk about the stories they read.

• Help your child with reading. It should not be a frustrating experience. Give them a couple of hints to help them guess the word. Ask them some questions about the cover, the title, the pictures to give them a frame of reference. Read with them.

• Find books you all enjoy. It is very difficult to get excited about reading a book you don't like.

• Joke books, sports magazines etc. can be great choices for reluctant readers.

• Oral reading is important with older children as well. Don't stop reading with your child once they learn to read. They still need the support, the encouragement and the modelling.

• Read to you child at every opportunity. Read with your child. Taped books can be great in the car. Our children each have their own personal cassette player. On long trips they can each listen to their favourite books on tape and follow along. Mom and Dad can listen to the news or even talk for a few moments without interruption.

• Understand that learning to read can be a slow process. It takes practice, don't give up.

• Who? What? When? Where? Why? Are still key questions when reading and understanding a story. Don't forget to ask your child about the story being read.

• Explain to your child why you like certain books and why you don't like others. They need to become critical readers.

• You, as parents are the key to your child's success. Taking the time to read to children is the best way to help children     become readers.

• Good readers are successful in school. Work with you child's teacher to ensure success.

For further information contact
PANKOW & PANKOW Behavioural & Educational Consultants
RR # 1, Perth, Ontario
(613) 283-2604

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