Here's an article in the July 11, 2010 Seattle Times addressing a question many parents of young children are asking about reading programs, especially as a new school year approaches. John Rosemond advises that a phonics-based approach is essential. He also adds:

By the way, I routinely tell parents, "These days, no matter what sort of school you send your child to, you should be prepared to do a certain amount of home-schooling." It's just the way it is.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2012292526_parents12.html

Here is an article published in the New York Times about a new ad campaign recently launched.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/business/media/26adnews.html?_r=1

President Obama is promoting reading to children by sharing the book Where the Wild Things Are to a group of children here: 

I love the concept of celebrating dyslexia. Here is part of a great article that Angela posted recently on the Reading Horizons website:

3 Ways Teachers Can Help Dyslexic Students: Pt. 3- Focus on Strengths

By Angela

What type of parent are you? Do you ever wonder how your parenting style is impacting your child/children?

By looking at recent research from Professor Mark Cummings of the University of Notre Dame, you can see how your parenting style is impacting your child’s school performance and behavior.

Cummings research classified three different parenting styles: cohesive, enmeshed, and disengaged. Read on to find out what style you embody.
 
COHESIVE PARENTING

You are raising your child in a cohesive family if you are: responsive, warm, consistent, and flexible. If your family typically works well together with harmonious interactions you are likely using a cohesive style of parenting.

How does this impact children in school?

According to Cummings, "coming from a cohesive family, in which members tend to be warm and responsive to one another, where problems are resolved, and members cope well, increases the likelihood of children doing well in school." 

ENMESHED PARENTING

You are using an enmeshed style of parenting if you are over involved and intrusive in your child’s life, display some emotional warmth but also display hostility. The outcome of this style of parenting is a lack of family unity.

How does this impact children in school?
 
Children from these families enter school with a similar emotional concept as students from cohesive families; however, Cummings research found that over time these students are more susceptible to feelings of anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and loneliness.

DISENGAGED PARENTING

You are using a disengaged parenting style if you uninvolved and unresponsive to your children. These parents are cold, controlling, avoid problems, and are withdrawn from their children.

How does this impact children in school?

Children coming from disengaged homes typically have the most problems in school. Researchers found that these children begin school with higher levels of aggressive and disruptive behavior. These students also have a difficult time focusing in class and obeying class rules.

Cummings explained, "they often start school with more disruptive behavior and higher levels of aggression and difficulty cooperating."

Clearly it is important for parents to strive for a cohesive parenting style to maximize the success of their child in school and social relationships.

To read more of the research visit:

Behavior Problems in School Linked to Two Types of Families

Children's School Performance Tied to Family 'Type'

Last night some of our family watched the new movie Ramona and Beezus, which is based on the books by Beverly Cleary. This author was one of the first I ever really took note of in grade school. I still feel a certain familiarity with her as though she were a personal friend, and it's probably been over forty years since I read one of her books. (Learn more about her at http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/authorsillustrato/a/beverlycleary.htm.) We liked the movie very much, by the way, and it was rated G. I've been thinking about how such books shape young lives.  9 yr.old Ramona's view of the world on Klickitat Street in Portland had to have affected me as a quiet, timid 4th grader on my own small, rural street in Centerville. Her antics brought laughter back then as well as now, but most importantly a certain understanding that all can still be right with the world despite lots of well-intentioned things going wrong. I'm so glad we became acquainted early on!