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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2017)
April 2017 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 13 Book lovers have good reason to find April D.E.A.R. By LORI McNEIL, M.B.A., M.Ed. Most have known for genera- tions the importance of storytell- ing and reading to your child when they are young to help build literacy skills. Recent research supports this and has led to campaigns that encourage reading to children from 15 to 30 minutes each day to help increase skill level. Beverly Cleary wrote dozens of children’s books that have made their way into libraries all over the world and provided exciting adven- tures for young readers since 1950. Ramona Quimby is the main char- acter in many of Cleary’s books. Beverly Cleary wrote about D.E.A.R. in “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.” Since then, “Drop Everything and Read” programs have been held nationwide on April 12 in honor of Mrs. Cleary’s birthday (she turns 101 this year). HarperCollins Children’s Books, the publisher of all of Cleary’s books, decided to adopt the entire month of April and launch an annual campaign cele- brating the life of Beverly Clearly by encouraging reading all month! Drop Everything And Read is a great time to focus on increasing the daily amount of time you and your child spend reading, as well as engage in activities that will sup- port literacy skills and a life-long technology is not necessary. love of reading. For instance, on a camping trip, April is the right time of year instead of reading on a Kindle or to get outside! Exploring and playing a hand-held video game, experiencing settings with the take a hardback to read so your five senses helps kids make last- child can help turn the pages, ing connections between what feel the paper, and interact with they read in a book and the real the actual book. This will inspire world. For example, when you family bonding and deepen take your child for a walk, have their connection with read- intentional conversations about ing. Technology has many good what they notice, what they educational uses but sometimes smell or what rocks, sticks, and allowing children a more tra- leaves feel like. Most kids also ditional experience provides like collecting things. Maybe the unique learning opportunities. next book they will want to read Lori McNeil’s new book offers many sug- Maintaining balance is key. gestions for reading in the great outdoors. will be about geology. As we celebrate D.E.A.R Try and help your child make Month, try brainstorming cre- links between the things experi- ative ways that you and your family Something as simple as a going enced on the walk and something can increase literacy skills. Spend for a walk can actually be turned in a book they recently read. Did more time reading, making new as- into a huge literacy building activ- you recently read about flying a sociations to books that have been ity! You might also take a book kite, camping, swimming, or go- read, increasing vocabulary, and along and find a nice place to stop ing to the park? If so, these are all creating opportunities for deeper and read together. Increasing the things that can help to make other critical thinking. These opportuni- number of minutes your child connections on your walk. ties are all around us, every single spends reading or that you spend Intentionally using larger vocab- reading together is a great invest- day. You only need to Drop Every- ulary words when communicating thing And Read. ment of time. with your child will help increase In our technology-based soci- ________ their own vocabulary. Don’t worry ety, most people have cell phones, if they don’t know what the words iPads, laptops and other electronics Baker City resident Lori McNeil has mean, use the opportunity to en- been an educator for nearly 20 that they never leave home with- gage your child in a conversation. years, teaching all grade levels. out. Don’t forget to interact with Building vocabulary is an excellent your child as much as possible by way to assist reading skills. participating in activities where All Comers Youth Track Meet is May 20th. At Pendleton High- School Track. FREE! Mother Daughter Pajama Party! $25/couple . May 6th. Register by May 2nd. 541-276-8100 • www.pendletonparksandrec.com