Have you read to your child lately? Research shows that one of the most important activities for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.
At Watervliet Elementary School, we would like to provide ample opportunity with books and rich literature at an early age! More than 10 years ago, WES started the 1,000 Book Club: Growing Readers program in an effort to reach our preschool children and have them exposed to 1,000 books by the time they enter kindergarten. Many children and their families have enjoyed hundreds of books through this program. Now the opportunity has come where all of our Universal Pre-K students can be involved as well!
Here is how it works…
A parent/guardian must fill out a registration card. The student can take home one of the 100 bags available, each having 10 books in them. Upon returning the bag to school in two weeks, the student can pick up another bag of books. Book bags can be picked up and dropped off any day of the week in the morning when the UPK students arrive.
Program incentives and rewards are available along the way. The first milestone to aim for is 25 bags. The timeline for completing this program can be flexible, but the goal is for each participating child to have listened to all 1,000 stories by the start of first grade.
Please remember that one of the program’s goals is to help children develop a lifetime bond with reading and books. This goal begins at home and we are privileged to help you and your child work toward meeting this goal.
How do I join?
A parent must fill out a registration form and submit to the UPK Office or their child’s classroom teacher. Forms can be picked up in the UPK office.
Bag Exchange Times
The bag exchange days occur daily.
Tips for Reading With Your Child At Home
- Find a quiet, comfortable place to read with your child.
- While reading with your child, occasionally point to items in the pictures and ask your child to tell you what they are and/ or stop and explain the meaning of any words in the book that your child may not understand.
- Before you read a book, read the title and look at the cover and pictures inside. Ask your child what they think the book may be about.
- After reading the book, review your child’s prediction with him/her. Was the prediction right? If not, what happened instead?
- After reading a story, ask your child to retell the story in his/her own words. What happened in the beginning, middle, and end?
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about the 1,000 Book Club