Reading Records Read-to-Me Records Reading Recognition Certificates Introduction & Information Suggested Reading Lists | Reading Information Program Suggestions | Banner How can bookstores and publishers take part? "Reading is a cumulative process. In other words, you get better at it the more you do it. It is important that children read at least 1/2 hour every day." "Children who cannot yet read* should be read to every day. And children should see their parents reading for enjoyment. It helps create a healthy habit." *Even big kids and older family members, who know how to read, continue to enjoy being read to. You might want to consider a having a family story night. 2005 - IQRA section currently being updated for this summer's super readers!   Why Read During the Summer?  Summer reading keeps a child's brain sharp. That results in less "cobwebs" that need to be cleared away at the beginning of the school year. It can help your child become a better reader and maybe a better student. It can exercise your child's imagination, which is a necessary tool when working in technology or medicine and medical research. And taking a trip via a book, can help keep kids out of trouble.   Please welcome our new reading program coordinator and head Sister Jean Christenson! Sister Jean is a first grade teacher at El-Amal school in Minnesota!   MORE INFORMATION ON THESE TOPICS: Islamic Schools Information Parents Involved in Education Muslim Home Schooling Information   IQRA Summer Reading Program is not affiliated with IQRA' International Educational Foundation Introduction and Information The first words the angel Jabril (Gabrielle) ever said to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was "Iqra (read)". It can rightly be said that a Muslim's mandate has been to read. Then to expand the thought, to be educated. In our times we know so much more about how the brain functions and learning disabilities. But with this greater knowledge has come greater distractions, from television to video games. When we should be experiencing greater literacy we have more and more children responding with our prophets first reply to Jabril's command, "I am not a reader." Yes, many children have difficulty reading, They may have a learning disability, they may have not received the necessary mechanics in school or they may have been turned into none readers by being forced to read material that has no interest and no value to them (in other words boring material). Reading with your child, reading to your child, encouraging your child to read recreationally at least 1/2 hour every day can turn this trend around. Recreational reading is reading that is not done to complete a class assignment like reading section 5A of a social studies textbook. It is reading something interesting, educational or fun that a child chooses. Many schools and homeschools take part in the "D.E.A.R." Program (Drop Everything And Read) others call it independent reading. But it is all the same thing. (Recreational reading often is part of a school day.) There are important things to remember when encouraging a non-reader. Encourage your child to pick books on his or her READING level, not grade level. Reading at a level that is too high can have negative effects. Reading on a level too low can either be boring waste of time, or a way to get out of reading all together.   Having a child read to you can be a great indicator of how they are doing. However, there are some children who read very well to themselves and stumble when reading aloud. Incorrect assessments can be made leading parents and teachers believe that the child needs remedial reading. Ask your child questions about what they are reading. Do they comprehend the story? Do they remember what they are reading? Can they give you a brief synopsis? If they can do all three, then they just are not "oral" readers. They should be fine. Some kids are great oral readers but do not retain anything that they are reading. These children cannot answer the questions above. Picking up some reading comprehension workbooks will assist in this area. Other kids stumble over their oral reading AND do not retain what they have read. There are several causes of this. They may not have the necessary mechanics to decode the words they are reading. There are many phonics programs and games that can assist in this. Or they have a learning disability or both (Children who are not great oral readers, but understand the story, can also have a learning disability. The point is they get better at reading the more they read.).   Set aside reading time for all of you, and make it informal. Some schools have rugs, bean bag chairs and pillows that kids can sit on and lean against a wall or lay down while reading. In homeschools or at home, sofas, recliners, beds, the floor can all be utilized at this time. If you can make this a quiet time that is great. Remember that there are some kids who are audio learners. That means that they absorb and understand information better if they hear it. These are the kids that read aloud to themselves. If that is disturbing to others, just give them a space to themselves.  Encourage your kids to keep a written record of all the words they don't understand while they are reading. Then when reading time is done, everyone can go to the dictionary and look up these words. In that way everyone expands his or her vocabulary and they've gotten to use dictionary skills!  No matter the reason, whether your child is a good reader, or not so hot, summer reading should not be a stress filled exercise. You can make it fun by making it and visits to the library or bookstore a family activity. Discuss the books your child is reading. Put them into an Islamic context if possible. Compare and contrasts the way the characters solved problems, etc. View books that might have a problem outside of Islam as a opportunity to reinforce Islamic values. Look at what they read, if you are a parent who monitors television shows your child watches, you should monitor books they read as well. There is nothing like a book on a cold rainy day. While television numbs a child's imagination a book takes it out to play. Imagination is necessary when inventing the next wave of technology tools, or how to combat a resistant form of cancer, better tasting low in fat foods, better and more environmentally friendly forms of energy, the list can and does, go on an on. Learning Disabilities Sometime a child's dislike of reading really masks a learning disability. If you suspect your child has a learning disability you may request your school or health professional to run a battery of tests to determine if this is true. You may also request to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) assessment done and created for your child. If your child attends a private school an IEP can provide additional moneys to the school to help educate your child. It is important to note that if your school district does conduct an IEP, it may come back negative. You may still feel that there is a problem and can at that time request, an independent IEP. School districts can sometimes deny or give negative results in an initial IEP, even when the problem is obvious. This is because they want to save money. If this happens ask for another assessment, done independently of the school district. Homeschoolers, however, may wish to get an IEP assessment done privately. Some school districts do not like to loose IEP students and can become intrusive to your homeschooling efforts. After the IEP is done you can then locate private help, if necessary, and bring your financial needs up to the school district. Talk to other homeschoolers and parents of special needs students in your area to get an idea how to handle it. Reading Lists These reading lists are a collection of suggestions from various Muslim homeschoolers and Muslim teachers. They are listed two ways by group and by grade. There is also a "Read-to-Me" list and a list of books in Arabic (insha'Allah). The book suggestions are both Muslim and non-Muslim. Remember to choose books at a child's reading level which sometimes is not at grade level. Current reading list More suggestions from Sister Jean (These pages are in a "raw" format and have not, due to time, been added to the current reading list.) Selections 1 To submit Arabic titles, please write the transliteration title, the title translation in English and authors name.    Reading Certificates 5 Books Read 11 Books Read 17 or more Books Read     Reading Information Links will appear in a separate window NPR program on Reading to Kids, Wednesday June 26 (scroll down to program)         7/23/2002 Back