Avoiding the Summer Slide

Summer is here! How to keep your kids reading skills up!

*Six books to summer success: Research has shown that reading only 6 books over the summer months can prevent a child from slipping in their reading levels. Choose books that are not too hard, and not too easy, but interesting to your individual child.

"All readers are good readers, when they have the right book." — Jeanne Henry

Do your kids have the right book?

*Read something every day: Encourage your child to spend some time reading each day. There are opportunities all around us. Create baskets of books in your home and for your family. Have a basket in the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the car, and even in the bathroom. If there is books available, they will pick them up!

*Keep reading aloud: There is nothing more beneficial than reading aloud to your children. Reading aloud can benefit children of any age, especially if they are struggling. Fill their "reservoir" with new words, and expressions that will help build their listening and comprehension skills. If your child has been read the words before, when they read them on their own they will understand them much more quickly.


"It's not the toys in the house that make the difference in children's lives; it's the words in their heads. The least expensive thing we can give a child outside of a hug turns out to be the most valuable: words." From Chapter One: Why read aloud? The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease


HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Usborne Very First Reading Series

**New Reading Set in Review**
The Usborne Very First Reading Series

Usborne Books has just released the most amazing set of Beginning Readers. These are available in a boxed set of 15 books and a parent guide. These books are for children who are just beginning to learn to read, or are just struggling along. It offers the appeal of imaginative rhyming stories and irresistible illustrations. The support of a well-researched framework and the enjoyment of shared reading with an adult.

Just starting out - Books 1-7:

In the first seven books, adult and child take turns reading with the child's share becoming gradually more challenging in each book. These books cover material that is normally taught during a child's first year of school.
Be sure to give your child time to progress from one book to the next. Re-reading helps to build a child's confidence and fluency. There is also a website available that offers puzzles, games, and other activities directly connected to the stories to further practice reading skills.

Books 1-7 are: Pirate Pat; The Dress Up Box; A Bus for Miss Moss; Dog Diary; Grizzly Bear Rock; The Queen Makes a Scene and Stop That Cow!

Growing in confidence, Books 8-15

Starting with Book 8, the child reads the whole story with the adult providing help and support if needed. These books explore material that is often taught during a child's second or even the third year of school.

Books 8-15 are: Moon Zoom; Run, Rabbit, Run!; Late Night at the Zoo; Wild School; The Circus Under the Sea; The Monster Diner; Knight Fight and Mr Mystery.

Usborne Very First Reading set is based on the principles of synthetic phonics, which is one of several phonics-based approaches teachers commonly use when teaching children to read.
Reading is both the key to success at school and the source of a lifetime’s pleasure.

Usborne Very First Reading helps children develop the skills and motivation they need to read with confidence and enjoyment.

To Order your own set of the Very First Reading Series, go to: http://www.seeinsideusborne.com/ or contact Andrea McConahay, Educational Consultant with Usborne Books at: 801-616-1892 or by email at: Andrea@seeinsideusborne.com.

Looking for a Job? Do you love Children's Books?

We are always looking for new consultants all over the country!

If you love books, love kids, need a night out once in a while, could use some extra income, etc. Why not give Usborne a try?

Each month we offer an amazing kit special! Along with some fabulous books, your kit will also include all the business supplies, and 6 months of an online shopping site to help you get started. To see which books are included this month, and what it all entails, see the link below:

http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/RecruitingDetails.asp?sid=V2246&emkt=178

It can fit with any lifestyle, and you have nothing to lose! I can always use help with events to help you get started! Sign up with the link above, or contact me today for more information!

Conspiracy 365

I am so excited to announce a new book series available now, through me,
your favorite Usborne consultant!!!

"On New Year's Eve, Cal is chased down the street by a staggering, sick man with a deadly warning...

“They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days.”
Hurled into a life on the run the 15-year-old fugitive is isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehow uncover the truth about his father’s mysterious death and a history-changing secret. Who can he turn to, who can he trust, when the whole world seems to want him dead?

The clock is ticking.
Any second could be his last.
Callum Ormond has been warned.
He has 365 days.
The countdown has begun...12 books. 12 months.

Learn more about the series at http://www.conspiracy365us.com/

Ages: 10 years and up
Size of book: 5 x 7 3/4 inches
Pages: 192
Binding: Hardcover
Price: 10.99


Join my monthly bookclub, and order just 1 each month! Great series for any pre-teen, teen, or reluctant reader. ONLY SOLD THROUGH AN USBORNE CONSULTANT!!!

Thinking Gifts!

I know I am prejudice, but Usborne Books make the perfect gifts!! We have books for everyone whether they are young or old!! Our books are fun and entertaining, yet educational and thought provoking! Here are a few examples:

Wind-Up Race Cars is a fun, interactive book. Wind-up the cars, and watch them race through the story! Your little ones will love it! (3 others in this series)

Our touchy-feely books are highly popular, and great for creating hands-on, sensory awareness!
(Many titles to choose from!!!)

See Inside How Things Work! For all those kids who are always asking WHY questions, with flaps to lift! (17 more in this series)

Optical Illusions cards. Great for quiet time, waiting rooms, car rides, road trips, and small enough to fit in their stocking! (Many other flashcards/games to choose from.)

Perfect for your little craft lover! Help them use their imagination by creating fun projects all year long! (5 more in this series hardback, and over 15 more options in paperback.)

And of course the favorite search books, with many to choose from! (10 more in this series.)


Choose from over 1500 books on my website or email me to know more! Aren't sure what to buy? A little overwhelmed? Just ask for a personal shopping appointment! (I will come to you, bring a few books to show as examples, go through the catalog, and make a few suggestions). Bang, shopping done and you haven't even left your house! I would love to help anyone/everyone, so tell your friends!

Also, now booking home shows, so earn all your gifts for FREE! Mention this post and receive an additional $20 in free books the night of your show!
I can also do catalog parties/eShows as other options, even if you are not local. Just ask!

Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills

Since I am constantly researching this topic, and I have a strong passion about reading, and books (especially kids books), I thought I would share! These are amazing tips to help anyone encourage reading in their home!

Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills
by Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.

Nothing is more important to academic achievement than being a good reader. Parents know their children best and can provide the one-on-one time and attention that will lead them to success in reading. Here is a list of ways to help your children become more effective readers.

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day. Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.

2. Surround your children with reading material. Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.

3. Have a family reading time. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient to increase their reading fluency.

4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities. Make reading an integral part of your children's lives. Have them read menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time when they could be waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

5. Develop the library habit. Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials. The library also offers reading programs for children of all ages that may appeal to your children and further increase their interest in reading.

6. Be knowledgeable about your children's progress. Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. The school's curriculum will give you this information. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests.

7. Look for reading problems. Teachers do not always detect children's reading problems until they've become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words, know sight words, use context to identify unknown words, and clearly understand what they read.

8. Get help promptly for reading problems. Reading problems do not magically disappear with time. The earlier children receive help, the more likely they will become good readers. Make sure your children receive necessary help from teachers, tutors, or learning centers as soon as you discover a problem.

9. Use a variety of aids to help your children. To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they work on their skills.

10. Show enthusiasm for your children's reading. Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts.


Need more variety in your home library? Check out my website above.

Always looking for consultants!!!

I am always looking for consultants to join my team!! The opportunities are coming at me left and right and I am always looking for more help! These events will probably provide many leads that I won't be able to fill all by myself. If you or anyone you know might be interested in this type of business, please send them my way!!

Don't live in Utah but still interested, no problem!!! I can still help you get started!

It is fun, very rewarding, and gets some high quality educational books in your hands! A great way to work towards staying home with your kids, help with the family finances, get out of debt, or save for a rainy day!