Kids bring into school what they experience at home. If the child has been read to, then reading will come easy to that student. If the child has been placed in front of a television, then reading may be more difficult. Some children may respond to learning based on what is read to them rather than whether they were read to at all. Their imaginations are a great thing, and parents help mold those young minds. Therefore, try to learn the parent’s reading habits to help the kid succeed in class.
When parent teacher night comes around, don’t be afraid to ask if the parent reads. And if they do, ask what they like to read. Ask if they read to their children, and if they don’t, ask if anyone else does. Explain that there is no right or wrong answer, but that you use the information to know how to start that student out in your reading program. If the parent doesn’t read to the child, encourage her to do so once the student begins the reading program in your class. It may or may not happen. If the parent say work or other situations make reading to the student impossible, then assure the parent that you can assign a reading mentor to her child so that the child can keep up in school.
Never make a parent feel guilty about not reading to her child. There is the very real possibility that the parent can’t read, and she may be embarrassed to tell you this. Always assume the best and offer to give the right help to teach the student. The parent will appreciate it.