Empowering Parents

About the program

Al Roker of NBC's The Today Show is the host of Empowering Parents, a primer for parents whose child is struggling to read. The 30-minute program is the sixth episode of the award-winning PBS series Launching Young Readers.

Empowering Parents visits schools in Huntingtown, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, to outline the warning signs that indicate a child may have difficulties and shows why early intervention is so important. The program features experts Rick Lavoie; Dr. Julie Washington, University of Michigan; Dr. Roland Good, University of Oregon; and Dr. Guinevere Eden, Georgetown Medical School.

Jennifer Simpson is a mother on a mission. Unlike many parents who don't realize when their child is behind the learning curve, Jennifer knows exactly where her daughter should be – and isn't.

Bryana was waving a red flag for reading problems at eight months old. That's when her mother found out Bryana was hearing impaired.

Special education expert Rick Lavoie shows parents why it's important to take action. "Parents sometimes worry that they're overreacting when their child isn't reading in first and second grade," says Lavoie. "It's really not possible to overreact to that. It's a fairly serious thing."

Watch as the folks at Metzger Elementary in Portland, Oregon, help struggling students like J.T. with extra doses of reading and one-on-one tutoring.

Find out how the brain of a kid with reading problems, like Jonathan, handles reading differently than the brain of a strong reader.

Jennifer Simpson participates in an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting with a team of seven people committed to making sure her daughter, Emiliann, becomes a good reader.

Reading advice from Al Roker

Q: As a father of three, what's your best reading advice for parents?

A: Just do it. Read anything to your kids. Find books that you enjoyed as a kid. Chances are they will enjoy them too.

Q: Describe your family's reading ritual.

A: We read an ongoing chapter book to Leila and a simpler book to Nicky. Since their bedtimes are about an hour and a half apart, we take turns reading the stories.

Q: Besides stories before bed, how do you encourage your own children to make reading a habit?

A: We try reading street signs, cereal boxes and anything we can get our hands on.

Q: Learning to read is a process and children often pass through phases of resistance to reading ("You read it; it's too hard!"). How do (or would) you handle this reluctance?

A: Try and make it a game. And say, "Just one more word, and then I'll do a word."

Q: A friend tells you that their child has said, "Reading is stupid! I hate it!" What advice would you offer your friend?

A: Tell the child, "Mommy and Daddy like reading and we don't think it's stupid. Let's try reading together."

Q: As adults, we understand that reading is important. As if you were speaking to a six-year-old, explain the importance of reading.

A: Reading helps us meet cool people and go to neat places. Without reading we can't figure out where we are or how to put things together. We need to be able to read to have fun and to do our best in school.

Q: What are your top three favorite children's books?

A: "Green Eggs and Ham" (Dr. Seuss); "Raising Dragons" (Jerdine Nolen); and "Please, Baby, Please" (Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee)

Q: Your son is likely still in the age group that still demands repetition. How do you handle the "read it again!" dilemma that so many parents dread?

A: We read it twice, maybe three times and then Daddy says, "That's enough for now, let's try another book."

Q: Describe some of the media "tricks of the trade" that you use to make reading more interesting for your children.

A: Making sound effects, using different voices, and asking them to say the words if it's a story they know.

Awards

• CINE Golden Eagle Award
• New York Festivals TV Finalist
• 2006 IRA Broadcast Media Award for Television
• Telly Awards Bronze Medal Winner