FARMINGTON — Ways to help your child learn to read better at home is the focus of a free conference offered Saturday, March 23, by the staff at the W.G. Mallett School.

Parents, grandparents and caregivers are invited to Growing Young Readers from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Kindergarten and prekindergarten teaching staff will offer fun activities and informational sessions geared toward children ages 3 to 6, Mallett students or students-to-be, Principal Tracy Williams said.

As part of their School Improvement Plan, this is one of several ways the staff is trying to boost literacy, teaching and learning, she said. Other activities based on reading are also being planned.

A Literacy Technology Night is available for parents from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 25, at the school. A second session takes place on April 8. Parents can learn about different apps for iPads and computers, ones that can help with reading and those that don’t, she said.

Following registration and refreshments Saturday, Marcia Nash, professor of elementary Language Arts Education at the University of Maine, will speak briefly about the “why” of the conference and the importance of parents reading at home.

Parents will choose from seven different sessions running concurrently. Each will be repeated three times, giving parents a chance to attend three sessions.

The 45-minute sessions include:

* Playing with sounds and language: Singing, rhyming and learning games to play with children.

* Reading to your child: Reading to children is the most effective literacy demonstration.

* Connecting reading and writing: Activities to become better writers and writing’s connection to reading.

* Learning the ABCs: Fun activities to help children learn letters and the sounds they make.

* Kid Conversation: Using simple conversation to shape a child’s reading and writing growth and development.

* Getting Little Hands Ready for Writing: Creative ways to help a child build hand strength and coordination.

* Becoming a Reader: How to encourage growth.

The sessions are presented by the Mallett School staff.

Those attending will receive a book bag, compliments of Lakeshore Learning, and a free book and other materials, which they’ll receive in the sessions. A drawing for prizes takes place at the end of the conference.

“Though we’re making an academic effort, we think it will also be a lot of fun,” Williams said.

For more information, call the W.G. Mallett School at 778-3529.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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