Reading Rockets offers reading comprehension and language arts teaching strategies for kids, and is a free web site for parents and educators
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Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

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Back to School

For Parents and Teachers Too!

Fall is on its way, and it's time for the school year to begin — and not just for kids, but for parents and teachers, too. Parents can help their young children become acclimated to the newness of school and ease their older kids back into familiar school-day routines. If you're a teacher — whether a novice or an old pro — Reading Rockets has ideas and resources to help you get ready for the best school year yet! Make sure to visit our sister sites, LD OnLine and Colorín Colorado, for even more back-to-school resources for parents and teachers.

Click below for:

Resources for parents

  • Getting the most out of back-to-school night and beyond

    This opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and connect deserves special attention. Reading Rockets has gathered resources to share with parents as well as materials to help parents make the most of back-to-school night and set the tone for a successful school year.

  • Who's who at your child's school

    There are many people at your child’s school who are there to help your child learn, grow socially and emotionally, and navigate the school environment. Here’s a selected list of who’s who at your school: the teaching and administrative staff as well as organizations at the district level. You might want to keep this list handy all year long.

  • Reading Tips for Parents of Babies Through Third Grade

    One-page parent tip sheets to download and print, in 11 languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Navajo, and Vietnamese (currently available for Pre-K through Third Grade).

  • Reading Together

    Reading aloud with your children is probably the most important thing you can do to help strengthen their skill and joy in reading. Take a look at these articles on family reading activities, motivation, and more.

  • Ed Extras

    One-page articles, in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from building background knowledge to helping your kids succeed in school. You can read these now, and subscribe to receive future monthly editions.

  • Sound It Out: A Reading Rockets Blog

    Join Joanne Meier — reading researcher, writer, teacher, and mom — every week as she shares her experiences raising her own young readers, and guides parents and teachers on the best practices in reading.

  • Change is in the Air: Children's Books for the Season

    Wonderful books about autumn, the harvest season, and the first day of school, selected by Maria Salvadore, our Reading Rockets children's literature expert.

  • For Families of English Language Learners

    Visit our bilingual sister site, Colorín Colorado, for information on helping your child become a good reader and a successful student.

  • For Parents of Kids With Learning Disabilities

    Visit our sister site, LD OnLine, to learn how to help get your child organized for school.

  • Lunchbox Notes

    Small notes tucked inside a lunchbox or bookbag can really bring a smile to your child's face. These printable notes, featuring artwork by well-known children's book illustrators, will encourage reading and remind your child that you are thinking of them!

Resources for first year teachers

The first year of teaching is a tough job. Everything is new — the students you're responsible for; the school's procedures; your relationship with fellow teachers, administrators, and parents; what you plan to do and teach each day; your classroom management and teaching style; and much more.

The following are resources to help new teachers navigate their first year:

Questions teachers ask

Each month, we receive many questions from parents and teachers about their kid's reading ability and progress. Below are common questions from teachers that Reading Rockets has answered:

Teaching tools

Target the problem

Target the Problem

This tool helps parents and classroom teachers understand the specific problems a child may be having with reading. You'll find practical suggestions on what you (and kids themselves) can do to help students overcome or deal with their reading difficulties.

Target the Problem

Teachers' Guide

Created for preschool through second grade teachers, the Teachers' Guide lists typical reading achievements by grade level and suggests how teachers can foster the development of phonemic awareness, fluency, spelling, writing, and comprehension skills.

Reading 101

Reading 101

Teachers who know the art and science of teaching reading are able to provide skillful, effective reading instruction, and can help students who need it overcome obstacles to becoming readers. This section of this Reading Rockets provides detailed information on the components of effective reading instruction.

PBS Teachers

PBS Teachers offers K-12 classroom content and professional development from PBS. These resources can be used in connection with PBS programming, or as stand-alone lessons.

All Kinds of Minds LearningBase

The LearningBase provides insights into the learning challenges that students face and offers hints and activities that may help them minimize or overcome their differences in learning.

OSEP Toolkit - Put Reading First

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education has created a toolkit of best practices for teaching reading, based on the latest research, for kindergarten through Grade 3.

t-source

The American Federation of Teachers is proud to bring you a web site created for teachers by teachers. t-source provides resources designed to support professional growth and helps teachers do a better job every day.

Articles

Books

The links below to Amazon.com are provided for your convenience. A portion of your purchase helps support Reading Rockets. Thank you!

Additional resources

* To view this file, you'll need a copy of Acrobat Reader. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.

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"As both an educator and parent the information I receive from your comprehensive website helps my son on his journey to becoming a reader and helps my students on their journeys to becoming better teachers."
~ Nadine F.

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Wacky humor and stories of hope encourage struggling readers to keep trying in the upbeat and totally hip show for kids ages 7-12 called 'Reading Rocks!' Go to store.