Let us start by asking you one little question: When was the last time you read with your child for pure enjoyment? No agenda, no homework, just the two of you, the pages of a book, and time standing still.
At SIS Ajmer, we are convinced that the literacy journey doesn’t start or end within the walls of a classroom. Instead, it is a collective effort between home and school, between parents and teachers. Today, we’d like to engage in an open dialogue with your parents, our important partners, on how we can collaborate as a team to foster a lifelong passion for reading among our children.
You know that literacy is not simply reading and writing. It’s understanding, expressing, being creative, and feeling confident. But here’s the thing you might not know: kids who are taught to read at home do better at school, not only in English but across the board.
Home reading develops vocabulary, concentration, imagination, and empathy. Furthermore, it provides a lovely context for bonding, a moment to pause, to listen, and to connect.
So how can we help the little ones make reading a happy, daily part of your home life?
At SIS Ajmer, teaching is not just our passion, it is also our desire to collaborate with parents to foster engaging home learning environments. Here’s how we proactively support you to foster literacy at home:
Each term, we send out carefully selected reading lists for every age group. These aren’t dry academic suggestions, they contain classics, contemporary favorites, multicultural voices, and books that inspire curiosity and debate. You can look forward to books that make your child laugh, question, and perhaps even question their assumptions.
Have you considered reading one of the books on the list together and sharing with your child what they enjoyed, or didn’t enjoy? It can lead to some of the most fascinating conversations!
We regularly hold parent literacy workshops where we demonstrate practical strategies around reading aloud, questioning, and ways of transforming everyday routines into opportunities for learning. Several of you have attended, and the response has been encouraging.
If you haven’t already joined one, would you be willing to give it a go next term? It’s an excellent chance to learn, ask questions to the mentors, and meet other parents going through the same experience.
We’ve introduced a library whereby pupils read with peers, following what children can do at home. It’s an approach you can implement within your own household as well.
In addition, our Take-Home Libraries provide a changing selection of books for your child to take home. Parents tell us that this is their child’s highlight of the week!
From storytelling week to elocution and debates our calendar is packed with events celebrating reading. But the magic is when children observe their parents participating.
Would you think about reading a story next time during our reading week or telling the class about a favorite book from your own childhood? Your involvement makes reading more intimate and effective.
Before we part, Here are a few gentle reminders to establish good reading habits at home:
Establish a routine reading time – Even 15 minutes before sleeping can work wonders.
Let your child select books – Choice is powerful and results in ownership.
Be a reading role model – Make your child see you reading, as well.
Ask open-ended questions – “Why do you think the character made this decision?” or “What would I do in this situation?”
Create a cozy reading nook – A quiet, cozy area encourages concentration and relaxation.
Dear parents, your contribution to developing your child’s literacy pathway is unique. And the best part is that you don’t have to do it by yourself. At SIS Ajmer, we are here to assist, guide, and walk with you.
Reading isn’t simply a subject in school. It’s a gateway to other worlds, a key to understanding, and a gift that lasts children forever. Let’s wrap that gift together, one book at a time.