Let’s form a partnership. Consider connecting parents and computers to promote reading. On a typical day, 70 percent of adults go online.  With that many parents at their computers, we should do all we can to encourage them to access the school’s Web site for current information relating to reading.  With the Web’s help, we can inform, motivate, and involve parents in increasing their children’s interest in reading.  Let’s examine the ways we can do that.

      Middle grades schools all have a special reading program available to students.  Accelerated Reader, Reading Counts, Sustained Silent Reading, Young Hoosier Book Award, and others all share interesting components.  As an example, lists of Young Hoosier Book Award Nominees can be included along with information about how the school recognizes students involved in the program.  Provide a link for further information about the program.

      Web sites should include awards recognition, school newsletters, volunteer programs, course offerings, and links to sites for further information.  School librarians and reading teachers can provide reading content to the individual who provides updated information to the Web site.

      Reading course offerings might include details about the teaching of comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and independent reading. Information about efforts to help struggling readers should also be provided along with guidance about how parents can help them.

      Few people have the time and skills to volunteer to help struggling readers, but the Web site provides a forum to spotlight the problem and solicit help.  Follow the school’s volunteer guidelines for further information from the school’s contact person. 

      Pictures of the principal, teachers, or support staff holding a book can be featured along with a motivational line such as “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”  Be sure to highlight your own attention-grabbing statement reminding everyone about the significance of reading to the entire school.

      Feature a young adolescent book-of-the-week or -month recommended by a student.  Include a brief student review encouraging others to read that particular book.

      Put statistics to use. Track the library’s circulation, and then, with a specific goal in mind, post the results on the Web site.  For example, a school with 500 students could set a goal of 20 books per student or 10,000 books.  Like the United Way, the Web site could display a chart starting at 0 at the beginning of the year with 10,000 as the goal, providing a visible measure of progress available to everyone throughout the year.

      Computers are part of the fabric of our everyday lives.  Let’s remember to use them to help promote reading throughout all our schools.