Helping a child learn to read, is a gift that will last a lifetime and takes a partnership that begins at home and continues at child care and in school.  Here you will find tips and information to help children build the foundation to learn to read.

The Importance of READING- What National Research Shows:

• Reading serves as the major foundational skill for all school-based learning.
• Although reading and writing abilities continue to develop throughout life, the early childhood years - from birth through age eight - are the most important period for literacy development.
• The development of early literacy skills through early experiences with books and stories is critically linked to a child’s success in learning to read.
• Only 5% of children learn to read effortlessly.
• 20% - 30% of children learn to read relatively easily once exposed to formal instruction.
• 60% of children face a more formidable challenge:
  • For 20% to 30% of these children, reading is one of the most difficult tasks they will have to master throughout their schooling.
  • 90% to 95% of poor readers can greatly increase reading skills to average reading levels through prevention and early intervention programs that combine:  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency development, and reading comprehension strategies that are provided by well-trained teachers.
  • 88% of poor readers in first grade have the probability of being poor readers in fourth grade.
  • 75% of children who are poor readers, who are not helped prior to age nine, will continue to have reading difficulties through high school. 10% to 15% of children who have difficulties learning to read will drop out of school; only 2% complete a four-year college program.
  • While older children and adults can be taught to read, the time and expense is enormous.
• 80% of children identified as having learning disabilities have their primary difficulties in learning to read.
• Half of adolescents and young adults with criminal records have reading difficulties.
• Half of the youths with histories of substance abuse have reading problems.

What is Reading?

Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation.

Reading is More Than ABCs

What parents do or don’t do in the preschool years has a lasting impact on children’s reading ability. Learn some facts about the importance and need for literacy experiences in the first three years, in preschool, and in the primary grades. For a child to become a good reader, it takes a partnership that begins at home and continues at school.  You can prepare your child to read by sharing your time, talking about the world around you, telling and reading stories and asking and answering questions. Laying the Foundation of Reading

ABCs of Reading

A Child Becomes A Reader: Proven Ideas for Parents from Research - Birth to Preschool
A Parent Guide to Helping Your Child Read
How Most Children Learn to Read

What Are the Skills Needed for Reading?

How a Child's Reading Develops

Skills that Characterize a Good Reader

Raising a Reader
Simple Things You Can Do to Help Children Read
PBS Reading Rocket -- Watch the PBS series and explore this web site to find out how you can launch a child into a bright future with reading strategies that work...
America's Literacy Directory - an easy-to-use on-line searchable database of literacy programs in your community.

Is you child having trouble reading?  Here is information that can help.

Helping Children Overcome Reading Difficulties
Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children
Misunderstood Minds

National Award-Winning Learning Materials NOW AVAILABLE for You and Your Child

Michigan Department of Education R.E.A.D.Y. Materials

The Read, Educate and Develop Youth (R.E.A.D.Y.) program began in 1998 to provide Michigan parents and caregivers with engaging materials and learning activities to help young children develop the language and literacy skills needed to enter school READY.  

Since it's inception, R.E.A.D.Y. has become one of the most successful early childhood parent information programs in Michigan and throughout the country. 

The R.E.A.D.Y. Kit is filled with over a dozen items including learning activities, a book, a Sesame Street READY Tunes music cassette and much, much more.   These kits can be ordered for children in three ages groups: infants, toddlers or preschoolers.  Over 630,000 Michigan parents have received a kit.

Other R.E.A.D.Y. products include: The award-winning R.E.A.D.Y. video It Starts with a Book . . . And You illustrating learning activities for young children and the R.E.A.D.Y. For School Literacy Pack for children ages 3-6 filled with over 20 literacy-based learning activities centered around the book the Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

All Michigan R.E.A.D.Y. materials may now be purchased for a nominal fee by contacting Central Michigan University's Educational Materials Center by calling (800) 214-8961 or (989) 774-3953.  Click here to purchase ONLINE

WONDER YEARS National Award-Winning Parent Newsletter -- Now Available 

What could be more important than getting a good start on life. Now, Wonder Years is there to help parents and caregivers make the most of their child’s first five years. This full-color, glossy newsletter, and its accompanying development guides, has been parent tested and approved as a trusted resource for facing problems and finding solutions.

Every other month, Wonder Years readers will find:

• Inspiration to nurture your child’s growing potential.
• Assurance and advice to help you make it through those sleepless nights, temper tantrums and health crises.
• Stories from real parents about what they’ve learned in the trenches.
• Links to dozens of books, web sites, phone numbers and places you can go to get help when you need it.
• Expert counsel from leading physicians and educators.
• Insider tips on how to get what you need from caregivers, doctors and others.
• Simple, hands-on activities that you can use to boost your child’s growth.
• CLICK HERE TO VIEW A  Wonder Years Newsletter 

Wonder Years was developed through a partnership with the Partnership for Learning, The Children's Trust Fund, Wayne RESA and the Michigan Department of Education.  Newsletters are published bi-monthly. A one year subscription (six issues) is $7.00. Two years (twelve issues) is $13.00. To Subscribe: Just call 1-800-CHILDREN or click here for  individual order form or  multiple order form.