Early childhood through third grade is a critical time for beginning readers. From Kindergarten through 3rd grade, children are taught the skills that together enable them to understand and find meaning in what they read and take advantage of the learning opportunities in fourth grade and beyond. These skills include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and text comprehension. The Institute provides information to educators and families about teaching and learning the components of reading using findings from scientifically based reading research.
The road to becoming a reader begins early in a child’s life and continues for many years. Parents can help their children along this road in many ways. The tips below are only a few examples.
- Find opportunities for your child to spell and write
- Encourage your child to write often --for example, letters and thank-you notes to relatives and friends, simple stories, e-mails, and items for the grocery list.
- Help your child learn the correct spellings of words.
- Find opportunities to help your child develop vocabulary, knowledge of the world, and comprehension.
- Talk about new words that your child has read or heard. Ask her to make up sentences with the new words or use the words in other situations.
- Help your child use the dictionary or thesaurus to check on the meanings of new words she reads or hears.
- Help your child become aware of prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Point them out in books you are reading together or in print materials around the house. Ask her to think of other words related to the words you are discussing.
Resources:
National Institute for Literacy
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. The term "intimate partner violence" describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy.
IPV can vary in frequency and severity. It occurs on a continuum, ranging from one hit that may or may not impact the victim to chronic, severe battering.
Risk factors are associated with a greater likelihood of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization or perpetration. They are contributing factors and may or may not be direct causes. Not everyone who is identified as "at risk" becomes involved in violence.
Some risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration are the same. In addition, some risk factors for victimization and perpetration are associated with one another; for example, childhood physical or sexual victimization is a risk factor for future IPV perpetration and victimization.
A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of IPV.
Understanding these multilevel factors can help identify various opportunities for prevention.
Resources:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Domestic Violence Awareness Handbook
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Guardian Angel Home - Groundwork
