PARENT NEWS
September 11, 2026
What’s important to you?
I mean really important to you. The kind of thing you’re willing to devote time to at the expense of other activities.
We know that here in New Mexico, a major problem is that many kids can’t read at grade level. We can spend a lot of time trying to understand and quantify the reasons for that disparity . . . or we can work hard on the solutions that can help close that gap.
By far the biggest “bang for your buck” in terms of improving student reading levels is for parents to read to and with their children.
That’s true for any age. Storytime is not just for young kids in early elementary grades. The impact is also strong for preteens and teens as well.
And did you catch the most startling part?
The positive results happen in families where parents read with their kids, not just to their kids. That means you can sit in the same room reading different books, and you’ll still be helping your children grow and excel.
Books give us things to talk about together, often highlighting opportunities for parents to share their values with their children. They build vocabulary and critical thinking skills. They help create a safe environment in the home and allow for our brains to detox from all the screen time they can get exposed to otherwise.
And the investment?
20 minutes per day.
That’s right, just 20 minutes each day . . . Do I sound like an infomercial here? That’s not a big commitment. It’s less than one episode of your favorite sitcom. It’s shorter than the time it takes to make and eat a meal.
But the impact is powerful.
Like a lot of the paths to success, it’s not a secret what it takes to get there. The main reason that we don’t achieve these goals is that we aren’t always willing to put in the work that’s required. What would it look like if every family at Rehoboth Christian School set aside 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, to read together?
I think the results would be dramatic . . . and not just in the classroom.
So what do you think? Want to try to do something great together this year?
Let’s read as a school community and see where it takes us.
If you need ideas about the kind of books to read, consult with your child’s teacher or Mr. Yazzie, our librarian, and tell them what your interests are. They will be able to give you some great recommendations.
Together,
Dan Meester
Executive Director
