BJU Press Blog

Ready, Set, Read! (Part 2)

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We hope you’ve signed up your child(ren) to be a part of the BJU Press Summer Reading Program. If you haven’t, there’s still time! Registration is open until June 17.
A few weeks ago we shared part one of our interview  with JourneyForth acquisitions editor Nancy Lohr. Nancy shared with us some great information about the BJU Press Summer Reading Program and gave us some tips for encouraging reluctant readers to read this summer. Below are some more great nuggets from our conversation.

image of the 2014 sumnmer reading logo

What would you say to parents of special needs children who want to participate?

I would shout, “Hurrah for you!” The fact that your child cannot lift words from the page without some help doesn’t mean his or her literary taste buds won’t enjoy the story just as much as other children. Customize this reading program to maximize its effectiveness for your child. You may need to break the reading sessions into smaller segments, or “read” audio books while following along in the print book. You can do the same kind of seeing/hearing with eBooks by using the text-to-speech function of eReaders along with the on-screen text. Some books are available in DVD format so you can watch with the closed captions turned on. The Mice of the Herring Bone DVD from ShowForth is an example of this type of book. If you have other ways that you make reading accessible to your special needs child, we’d love for you share your approach with us on the JourneyForth Facebook page.

What’s the most important thing for parents to remember when choosing reading materials for their children?

Summer reading qualifies as leisure reading, so engage your children in the selection process to find topics of interest. Let your children read the materials that they didn’t have time for during the school year. Children learn how to read in school; they learn to love reading when they are immersed in topics or stories that they enjoy.

Don’t be overly concerned about whether the material is “hard enough.” Certainly you don’t want to let a capable reader slide by and gain little, but experts agree that regular reading in materials of the child’s choice is one of the best ways to strengthen reading skills as well as to develop a love for the written word. And the children who learn to love reading are the ones who will be reading long after the last school assignment is complete.

As a librarian, I often saw children who used their summer reading time to read all of the Hardy Boys® series—in numerical order—or some challenge of that nature. Those children did a heap of reading during the summer and had fun in the process. That’s huge motivation regardless of their skills. Reading is an accrued skill that develops as children read regularly.

What are some reading challenges that your child faces? Let us know in a comment.

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My Mom Is My Friend

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In honor of Mother’s Day, I want to honor my mom by sharing some of the ways that she’s blessed me. There is so much that she has done to show me her love, but I’ll just mention a few of the important ones. Maybe it will be a blessing to you as you think of the ways that God has used your mom in your life.

photograph of mother and daughter
She cares about me.

Mom loves me and genuinely cares about me. She shares in my victories and in my downfalls—cheering me on or offering suggestions. She isn’t afraid to tell me the truth or let me know if she thinks I’m wrong. I can count on receiving her honest opinion whether I want it or not. And let’s face it, I usually need to hear it.

She’s my friend.

Over the years we’ve developed more than just a mother-daughter relationship. We also relate as friends. So we hang out together and watch movies, go shopping together (that’s more her thing than mine), or visit our favorite ice cream place. We have adventures together and create great memories.

She has been my teacher.

Not only was my mom one of my academic teachers—she taught Spanish at my high school—but she also taught me practical things too—like how to write a check and balance my checkbook,  how to bake by following a recipe (she had me put the mixing bowl in the sink so I didn’t make a mess), and how to mentally calculate which coupon would give us the lowest price on an item (even though I  really don’t like coupons very much).  All those little things that you need to know for everyday life—my mom taught me those.

She’s my mom.

We have this funny thing that we say sometimes:

Me: You’re the best mother.
Mom: You’re the silliest kid.
Me: That’s all right . . . as long as I get to be your kid.

I’m glad that she is my mom, that God gave us to each other. I honestly wouldn’t want any other mom—she wouldn’t understand me or love me the way that mine does.

In short, I think I have the best mom. Is she perfect? No, but she’s perfect for me—just as yours is perfect for you.

How do you honor your mom for Mother’s Day?

Ready, Set, Read!

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The BJU Press Summer Reading Program has begun! In celebration of its launch, we spoke with Nancy Lohr, acquisitions editor for JourneyForth, about the Summer Reading Program and topics related to reading. Nancy, an avid reader herself, has also worked as a classroom teacher and a children’s librarian in the past. Below is a portion of the interview.

image of the 2014 sumnmer reading logo

What is your goal for the Summer Reading Program, or what would you say is its purpose?

The BJU Press Summer Reading Program is designed to give parents a manageable and effective way to keep their children reading through the summer months. Research shows that children can lose ground educationally during the summer months, and parents can minimize or eliminate this loss by establishing a pattern of leisure reading at home. Reading contests and programs can be notoriously difficult for the parent or teacher to execute, so we’ve designed our program to promote regular reading for children—we’re asking for reading five days a week for eight weeks during your summer—with a minimum of paperwork for Mom and Dad and taking into consideration the varying skills and interests of the children who participate. This gives families time for vacations, summer camp, and family activities while still making reading a priority, which in turn advances reading skills and fosters a love of reading.

Do you have some suggestions or encouragement for parents of reluctant readers?

If you as parents know why your child is reluctant, then you have some idea of where you need to focus your efforts.

Maybe you need to start the summer with an engaging read-aloud for your family. This could be the fanciful My Father’s Dragon or the poignant Stone Fox or . . . you get the idea.

Help your child select books appropriate to his or her skills. Scour an anthology or your library’s catalog to find something that is engaging to your child and suitable for your family, or talk with your local children’s librarian for ideas. Get recommendations from the readers in your world. Try cooperative reading with your child, taking turns with paragraphs or pages or with each of you reading the words of specific characters. Or one of you signal the other when you are ready to handoff to the other reader. Some children like to reread books; that’s just fine. Who doesn’t like to spend an afternoon with an old friend? Reading skills are strengthened even in rereading. Consider why that book is your child’s friend, and then look for books that are similar in some way.

If your child has adequate reading skills but doesn’t like to read, then it may be that he or she just hasn’t found a home-run book yet. Reading fiction may not be your child’s cup of tea, so look for nonfiction that will answer questions or deliver information. It may be that a book about combustion engines or the Smithsonian Magazine can satisfy your child’s need to know. Use the summer to find the kind of reading material that scratches the reading itch for your youngster.

Do you have a reluctant reader in your home or classroom? What have you done to motivate that child?

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What You Should Know About Test Results

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Have you received your test results yet? Even if you’re still waiting for your child’s testing materials, there are a few things to know about the test results that will inevitably come. Last month, I covered a few test results terms; today, I’ll share some other things you should know before receiving your results.

graphic of sign with the words Things to Know about your Test Results

Access to Test Results

The access you have to your test results will depend on which company you purchase your materials/scoring from. The BJU Press Testing & Evaluation Department provides electronic test results that are sent to whoever purchased the testing (usually the parent). As the purchaser, you have access to your digital test results at any time and don’t have to worry about losing a paper copy. So check with your test provider and see if they offer print or digital copies and if there are additional fees if you request a paper copy.

Availability of Consultations

Does the company providing your results include a consultation as part of your purchase? If not, check to see if your test administrator will provide a consultation at little to no extra charge. For example, both our Testing & Evaluation Department and our local Testing Center offer their customers test results consultations (via phone) for achievement and abilities testing. This allows parents to ask questions about their child’s test results and better understand them. If you think that you will need a consultation, make sure you know if that option is offered by your test provider.

Advice from Family Members or Friends

If you have relatives or friends who are educators or testers, they may be able to walk you through your results. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Just be sure to see if they will expect you to reimburse them for their time. Some may not ask for any compensation, but something small—say, a gift card to their favorite coffee shop—would be a nice gesture. Others may expect payment, especially if they have an established client-base that they provide consultations to.

Other Helpful Resources

What other resources have you found helpful when looking at your child’s test results?

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Pausing on His Way to Heaven

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image of the sky with sun rays beaming

In the synagogue at Nazareth, the Lord Jesus introduced Himself with the most powerful, yet tender mission statement ever spoken.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”        —Luke 4:18
 

To the end of His life on earth, our Lord was faithful to this mission; the closing hours and days before His glorious ascension vividly portray His commitment and shepherd’s heart. Throughout the Gospels, we see Him drawn to people with different needs. We see Him pausing on His way back to heaven to preach, to heal, to release, to show, and to convince.

Poor in spirit (Luke 24:13–31)

On the road to Emmaus, the Lord Jesus drew alongside to preach the gospel of His salvation to two downcast disciples who were poor in spirit. His words helped them to piece together the prophecies and promises so diligently taught to them before His crucifixion. They needed to hear it again, and our Lord didn’t think two was too small an audience. With knowledge and authority, steadfastness and patience, His divine instruction lifted them out of despondency. How easy it is for us to forget the power of the gospel. Hearing Him transforms even our bleakest circumstance.

Lonely, broken heart (John 20:11–17)

Then there was weeping Mary Magdelene—not only left alone in the garden—but feeling truly alone in the world.  Tears are the constant companion of the broken heart, and our Lord—yearning to wipe them away—drew near to her. Healing came with joyful recognition. The encounter was briefer than the one with the travelers, but the quiet comfort was lasting. And again, one was not too few for our Lord’s attention—even when His time was short.

Captive of the past (John 21:17)

A captive to his past, Peter, too, became the object of the risen Lord’s mission of mercy. Only a wide-open confession followed by a great commission could free the grief-stricken disciple from believing that his denial had cost him all future usefulness. He had to be singled out for grace. He needed to “taste” forgiveness. Peter: “Thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus: “Feed my sheep.”  Restoration given, the shackles fell off.

Wounded and doubting (John 20:24–29)

Perhaps we understand doubting Thomas, but wounded Thomas? The Lord understood that in the flesh, sometimes life’s wounds can cause a hard crust of doubt or unbelief to form. Feeling his trust had been betrayed, Thomas refused to hope and be disappointed. He put up barriers; yet Christ was patient with him. He presented Himself to be seen and touched. He set at liberty the one who was wounded.

Unconvinced multitude (1 Corinthians 15:6)

On one occasion He was seen by more than five hundred of His followers—seen not by one or two, but by many. The Lord made Himself recognizable. In the same way today, eyes see and hearts respond. We have all been blinded by discouragement, heartbreak, guilt, or doubt. Only a supernatural work can give us the vision to see He is there and to know that He will never not be there.

Christ’s mission was fulfilled. He was faithful until the very end of His earthly mission—even as He paused on His way heavenward.

How has the ministry of Christ impacted you?