By Martha Gramelspacher
Contributing writer

From the first “Good morning, mama,” to the last, “Good night, sleep tight,” researchers have discovered that conversations among family members, around the dinner table, in the living room, on the front porch, just before bedtime or in any number of situations, are found to be very influential in the development of language and reading readiness.

Educators at Thomasville Elementary School are attempting to dispel the misconception that reading begins with letters and sounds, a principle applied in education over the past several decades. They are spreading the words to parents: You are the most influential person in determining your child’s reading success.

“Language begins with communication within the home,” said Kathy Council, TES speech therapist. “The home is the foundation. It is the child’s first exposure to language, through conversations and read-aloud books. Language is learned first by hearing words being spoken.”

“Lap-hours” describes amount of time a parent spends reading to their child, talking with their child or telling stories to their child.

“While parents have that child in their lap or sitting close to them, they are not only giving the child what he or she needs to help language development and reading readiness, but they are also making a social and emotional connection with their child,” Council explained.

“We are asking parents to make a simple mind shift. Instead of being concerned about the child writing and reading their ABCs, simply make sure the child is hearing the sounds in language,” stated TES Reading Specialist Vickie Morris. “If the child can hear the sounds, then connecting the sounds to words will come easily. What we are asking parents to do now is much simpler than having a child writing and reading when they enter kindergarten. Parents can simply read and talk with their child everyday and feel comfortable that their child will be ready for kindergarten.”

Morris stressed, “Notice I said, ‘talk with’ the child. Not to the child or at the child. Make sure there is a conversation and dialogue between the parent and the child.”

As a new group of children prepare to enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2005, TES educators will assess each child’s awareness of language sounds and his or her ability to follow instructions.

For parents who may not feel comfortable or knowledgeable enough for the task, the educators offered several suggestions.

Have books at home. If books are accessible then children are more likely to look at the words and pictures. The books will provide opportunities for reading together or talking about the pictures.

Use the Thomasville Public Library. The library is expanding its offering of children’s books and anyone 6-years-old or older may obtain a library card and checkout books.

Attend Story Hour. The Thomasville Public Library offers a time for children to visit the library and hear a story being read by a reading specialist.

Use vocabulary at home. Break the routine and use different words to describe usual situations around the house.

Talk to the child about routine things. Notice words at the grocery store, while riding in the car or at the doctor’s office. There is an unlimited amount of environmental media a child may be exposed to everyday.

Council, Morris and kindergarten teachers will conduct a “Ready Set Kindergarten Class,” May 10, beginning at 6 p.m. in the TES Gymnasium.

“This workshop should be mandatory for all parents,” said Morris. “We have some critical information to impart to parents whose children will be attending TES in the fall.”

Topics covered in the session include, understanding the STAR literacy test and scores (parents are asked to bring their child’s test results to the meeting), explanation of kindergarten assessments, a parent check-list of what a child should be able to do to ensure Kindergarten success and tips on how to get your child ready for the first day of school. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions of the teachers.

Due to limited space, parents should not to bring children to this meeting.

Suggested reading for children entering Kindergarten includes nursery rhymes, Rosie’s Walk, by Pat Hutchins; Good Dog Carl books, by Alexander Day; Are You My Mother?, by P.D. Eastman; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, by Bill Martin Jr.; Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss; Olivia books, by Ian Falconer; Whistle for Willie, by Ezra Jack Keats; Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr.; The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and Maisy books, by Lucy Cousin.

“Preschool education plays a part in getting students ready for Kindergarten, however we want parents to know that their influence is the most critical,” Council said. “Read, read and read some more. It sounds so simple, but it can make a world of difference.”