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Show Educators stressed in today's school system jected by voters produce crammed classrooms. In schools across North America class sizes average 19 to 25 students. It's even higher here in Utah. This makes it all but impossible impossi-ble for teachers to provide individualized in-dividualized attention. a profound impact on his or her reading skills, the foundation to all learning processes. Here are some ideas to help bolster your child's reading skills: Read to your preschool age child. Invite his participation by discussing stories and accompany- classroom assignments. Encourage appropriate study habits and lovingly monitor his progress in schooL Developing good reading skills is essential to proper study habits, another an-other essential foundation to learning. BOUNTIFUL When children's learning progress does not live up to the expectations of parents, they are tempted to lay the blame at the door of the schoolhouse. But today, school systems and professional educators are stressed beyond belief. Budget ceilings and cutbacks; political promises of no tax hikes; and bond referendums re- Despite these adversities, the National Commission on Excellence in Education (NCEE) tells parents, "You have the right to demand for your children the best our schools and universities can provide. Your vigilance and your refusal to be satisfied with less than the best are the imperative first step." But providing children with an education that will equip them to compete in a global job market involves in-volves more than merely dropping them off under the portico of their school each day. The NCEE report warns, "As surely as you are your child's first and most influential teacher, your child's ideas about education and its significance begin with you. "You bear a responsibility to participate actively in your child's education. You should encourage more diligent study and discourage satisfaction with mediocrity. ' Your participation is most critical in building your child's fundamental fundamen-tal skills. For instance, you can have ing pictures. Encourage him to link sounds and the written word. Such sessions should be frequent, limited by his attention span, and enjoyable for both you and your child. Relate what you've read to life around the preschooler. Opportunities Oppor-tunities abound everywhere you go to reinforce the link between what you've read and what he sees around him. Listen to your older child read. Be helpful, but don't read for him. Positive support and reinforcement rein-forcement are critical. Discuss what is read with your young reader to facilitate comprehension com-prehension and retention. Support your child's reading activity. Be willing to take him to the library. Urge him to participate in reading programs; foster reading as a leisure-time activity; and limit television viewing as a substitute for reading. Emphasize that reading is for fun, as you reinforce the need to become more efficient in reading |