Here at Raising A Reader we love the start of a new school year! It’s a time of busy excitement as our coordinators return to classrooms across the Bay Area to help kick off the program.

As those Raising A Reader red bags start their weekly journeys home again, among the hundreds of great titles to discover parents and teachers can keep an eye out for some of our new, school-themed books. Sharing stories about being at school can help remind children what they did during the day and spark conversations about new experiences.

Here are some of our favorites from the collection:

Family Reading Programs

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/i-J8n7FXZ-M NULL.jpg)Local public libraries have wonderful programming for children and families–make it a goal to participate in at least one library activity before the end of summer!

The San Francisco Public Library (http://sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=1100000001&a=1) features a wide array of events, with a heavy concentration on storytime for toddlers, preschoolers, and families. Some programs are bilingual.

The Oakland Public Library (http://www NULL.oaklandlibrary NULL.org/events) also features terrific programming for children of all ages, and multiple read-alouds almost every day.

According to the Applied Research Center, sharing books with children regularly and interactively is the single most effective way to develop a child’s brain architecture and the language, emotional, and behavioral skills that prepare them to learn.

Take advantage of the fantastic, free programs the libraries in your community offer, in addition to the wealth of books and resources. If you haven’t yet made it a family tradition to visit the library, start today!

Finding Time to Read

(http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/family_reading NULL.jpg)Families commonly cite busy schedules as the greatest obstacle to establishing a 15-minute daily reading routine. What if reading became part of the rhythm of everyday activities?

Here are a variety of creative strategies to build early literacy skills.

1. License to read. As you walk, take the bus, or drive around the neighborhood, turn reading into a game! Read street signs, license plates, store signs, and billboards.
2. Songs and poems. Songs and poems help children recognize language patterns. Ask your child to teach you a song or poem in any language or sing along to music together. Clap out new or multisyllabic words.
3. Read and buy. When you go to the grocery store or farmers market, read the names of foods. Ask your child to help you group food together before putting items away, e.g. fruits, vegetables, drinks, dairy products, and canned goods.
4. Better than TV. Connect with your inner performer. Instead of watching TV, read a fun book together and act out the story. Ask all family members to participate.
5. Listen and read. If you prefer to listen to a book on tape, make sure to sit with your child and follow along. Although reading and discussing a book together is most effective for bonding, books on tape is another way to encourage reading.
6. Fun with labels. Write the names of household objects on sticky labels or post-it notes. Each day add a new label, such as bed, game, table, rug, chair, etc.
7. Pack books, too! When you visit the doctor’s office, ride the train, or visit any place where you will wait, pack books along with snacks and essentials.
8. Recipe for reading. Ask your child to help you gather ingredients for your next family meal or dessert. Ask him or her to identify each ingredient and describe specific qualities. This activity helps with classification and identification tasks.
9.  Reading pockets. Surprise your child by putting comics, notes, cards, etc., in a special pocket of her or his backpack.