Promote Literacy in Your Tween's School

Helping Teachers and Schools Foster the Love of Reading

Feb 3, 2009

Promoting literacy in middle school is important. Reading and comprehension is a gift that every tween can embrace with proper guidance. Help meet the needs for reading.

In the middle school years, students are required to read much more than ever before in lower grade levels. Some schools will require a tween to do a handful of book reports each year. This can be very hard for students who have problems reading or facing the challenges of literacy. However, there are ways that parents, grandparents, or anyone can help schools promote literacy.

Donate Time to Read with Tweens

There are many ways that volunteers can help in the classroom. Some students feel self-conscious when being asked to read aloud to the class. However, a tween may be more open to reading with someone he knows will not laugh or make fun if he stumbles.

Sometimes it can be helpful if a students has someone to rotate passages with. The parent can read the first paragraph and then start taking turns. This will help the child have a better understanding of the reading and gives a good example of what reading aloud should sound like.

Some students take book report tests better verbally. Consider volunteering some time to help give these tests. Many children learn better in this one-on-one environment. Donating time to help can be very beneficial to helping promote literacy in middle school.

Host A Benefit in Middle School

In order to get tweens excited about reading, try providing books of interest. Many school libraries cannot afford to continually buy the most popular books. Offering to hold a benefit or book donation event can be very helpful. Make sure to work with the school librarian and have her full cooperation to make the benefit run smoothly.

Find out what rules the school has about book donations. Some may be willing to accept book donations, while others prefer money to buy the books. In either case, get the kids involved. Offer prizes for the tween that receives the most donations.

Also consider holding an event at the school where students can bring in family members and other people to donate. Find a local author in the area and request an appearance to encourage attendance.

Have Kids Write Books

Many public schools now host competitions for children to write original books. Talk to the school board or PTA to offer this suggestion. Speak with local colleges or businesses and put together a scholarship for the lucky winner. Each grade can have a particular style of book to create and topic. Styles might include:

Once all of the books have been completed and judged, have the parents attend an annual author's night at the middle school. Many companies will be willing to donate items for the books or the event. Don't be afraid to ask around. There are lots of organizations and businesses that want to help tweens succeed.

Organize An After School Book Club

For those tweens who don't have activities to do after school, plan a get-together once a week where the kids have a book club. This club can be held at the school or in a home. The idea would be similar to an adult book club, but also plan to have various people come and read to the kids or have fun activities that relate to books.

Consider contacting publishing houses and see if they will donate bulk amounts of a particular book. Hand them out to the kids to read in a predetermined amount of time, and then do activities that are themed around the book after reading it. For example, if the book given was about Hawaii, host a Luau at the next meeting. This can make reading a lot more fun and enforce the things the kids learns in the book

Contact a Local Literacy Agency For Help

Most communities will have a literacy council that can assist with even more ideas and resources. Most agencies even have complete kits available that they will be more than willing to share. The rate of illiteracy in the world is staggering, take any help offered and make a difference.

Middle school is a building block to higher education. Reading is something that never goes away, so long as a tween is in school. Not only does promoting literacy now help a student develop a love of reading, but it also prepares her for the next step of education, high school. Help tweens everywhere be ready to take this next step.

The copyright of the article Promote Literacy in Your Tween's School in Adolescent Culture is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Promote Literacy in Your Tween's School in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.