Newsletter 1 - Maribyrnong Sports Academy @ Maribyrnong College

VICTORIAN PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE
This year 146 Maribyrnong College
students are registered to participate in
the Premier’s Reading Challenge. This is
a great achievement!
The Premier’s Reading Challenge
promotes the love and enjoyment of
reading amongst students. Maribyrnong
College library has a wide range of books
that are suitable for a wide variety of
reading levels.
We would like to see more students
participating. Students need to read 15
books by the 13th of August. Students
who meet the Challenge will receive
a certificate of achievement from the
Premier Mr Brumby, have their name
published in The Age newspaper (with
parental permission), and receive points
ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO READ AT HOME
When your child tells you that they have no homework, ask them if they’ve done their daily home reading. Research
shows that students of all year levels who read regularly do better in school and in their future career prospects.
Reading builds vocabulary and increases world knowledge; two big factors in dealing with the increased text reading
load of secondary school. Unfortunately, adolescents often lose interest in reading at just the time when they need to
be practising their reading skills more than ever. They need parents’ support and encouragement to read for at least 30
minutes per day at home. Here are some ways that parents can support their children to read at home:
o Model reading at home by having magazines, newspapers, and a variety of books available.
Let your child see you reading them too!
o Buy books based on films or television shows. These are hooks that lead to a renewed interest in texts.
o Encourage your child to write down the lyrics of favourite songs.
Music is the bridge to both writing and reading poetry.
o Take your child to a bookstore. Allow them to select their individual style of reading.
o Take books out of the local library. Model the love of reading within your community.
o Visit the school library and talk to the teacher - librarian about strategies for promoting reading.
o Buy books on CD and play them in the car or at home, or download audio books to use on
mp3 players or computers.
o Discuss your child’s heroes and help them find books to engage your child in reading about them.
o Encourage your child to write a letter to a favourite author to give feedback about a book.
o Look for books of a topical nature written for young people.
o If your child loves sports, try to find books about favourite athletes.
o Never criticize your child’s tastes in books. Instead, offer to read one that they have recommended.
Nothing succeeds like the bond between readers.
If you have questions about your child’s reading progress, please contact their English teacher or feel free to ring our
Literacy Coordinator, Mary Anne Griffith.
Page 10
towards their College house.
Students who have not yet registered
and who would like to participate in the
Challenge need to see Ms Collett or Ms
Shephard in the library.
Those students who have been
registered need to make sure that they
return their consent form signed by their
parent or guardian to the library in order
to be able to be in the Challenge.
If you would like to know more please
visit:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/prc/
default.htm
Enjoy your reading!
Ms Collett