Every Parent Matters

The key to education is the ability to read. We all have different speeds of reading and learning and all too often some of us can get left behind through in the whirlwind of modern life. Busy classrooms, busy Mums and Dads can result in the struggling reader slipping behind and maybe giving up. One of the recent success stories are the reading volunteers going into schools to give one to one support to a child. Startling results have been achieved. Within 6 weeks the struggling reader can overtake the rest of the class! If all children could receive this level of support we could expect substantially improved standards. But children don’t get 1:1 support in school, it’s impractical. In an average class of 30 there just isn’t the time despite the very best efforts of the teacher.

Some support at home is essential but how do we achieve this in the clamour of an equally busy home life. Bedtime stories have lapsed over the years yet these are the lifeblood of the help to be given at home. The part Dad’s play in this role has also slipped badly over the years due in the main to longer hours worked and perhaps the grim commute. The good news is there is some great new help for the busy school and parents

Technology has spurred the development of online reading games. Using a pc, whiteboard and especially a laptop computer, children can now watch animated stories where the script is highlighted as the narrator reads the story. Children love to repeat a favourite story – now just a click of the mouse away. And by turning reading into educational games there’s some great fun in the process.

To see an example of MightyBook reading support educational games take a look here

Alistair Owens operates www.keen2learn.co.uk offering educational games toys and puzzles.