The session, led by Dr. Lori Jones, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, focused on the foundational aspects of reading, beginning with early childhood literacy. Dr. Jones discussed the progression from recognizing letters in pre-K to developing fluency and comprehension in middle school. The presentation underscored that reading is essential not only for English Language Arts but also for understanding math word problems and scientific concepts.

For younger students, grades K-2, Dr. Jones recommended reading aloud and discussing story elements to build a strong phonics foundation. Moving to grades 3-5, the emphasis was on becoming fluent readers, capable of understanding texts with emotion and expression. As students reach middle school, the focus shifts to deeper comprehension, analysis, and engaging with diverse reading materials, including novels, graphic novels, and non-fiction articles.

Dr. Jones provided practical tips for parents to support reading at home, such as setting a daily reading time, allowing students to choose their reading material, and creating a family reading routine. She suggested using audiobooks and diverse reading materials like comics and recipes to engage reluctant readers.

The session concluded with a call to make reading enjoyable and integrated into daily life, emphasizing that parents do not need to be teachers to raise enthusiastic readers. The presentation is available on the district’s website and YouTube channel for those who could not attend.