Welcome to Mr. Bartels' Web Page

Your child’s success in school depends largely upon his/her ability to read. You can help your child become a good reader. It is very important that you provide good reading experiences for your child. As in any skill, “Practice makes perfect!”

Please provide your child with good quality reading material. This is accomplished easily by acquiring a library card and making regular visits to the public library.

When your child comes to a word that he/she does not know, ask them to skip it and finish the sentence. Then ask him/her, “What word would make sense, beginning with ...” If they are still unable to say the word, please simply tell them the word. Then ask your child to reread the whole sentence for understanding.

Children, even teenagers, enjoy having interesting and exciting stories read to them. A child’s listening comprehension is three to four grade levels above their reading level. So, listening to stories read aloud by an adult will also help your child develop better comprehension skills.

Jim Trelease, the author of The Read Aloud Handbook, a parent/teacher guide to children’s books, states, “We must read aloud to children to advertise the product (literature)!” This handbook is available in our school library. Research studies state that, “The most important element for success in school is that children have stories read aloud to them at home.”
 

Reading Tips.

When reading to your child, try these suggestions:
1. Pick a regular time for reading to your child every day.
2. Choose a time when you won’t have any interruptions from the television or the telephone.
3. Find a comfortable, quiet place to read.
4. Make sure your child can see the words and pictures in the book. (Point to the words as you read.)
5. Read with expression!
6. Have fun reading to your child--make it a pleasurable, family experience.
 

Remember

Your child needs practice listening and reading to you every day. Just fifteen minutes of each will help tremendously. This equals the length of just one television show. You, as a parent, are very important in the development of your child’s reading. Please take the extra time needed to help your child to become a successful reader.