| Pre-school reading and kindergarten curriculums in | | | | skills but encourage them to pick up a crayon or |
| most public schools | | | | large pencil and try to |
| teach the alphabet and its corresponding sounds. | | | | trace the letters.5. Start reading to your children |
| However, today more | | | | as soon as they can focus their eyes on |
| and more school districts are assessing children's | | | | the book. Read simple board books every day. |
| letter name and | | | | Introducing the concept |
| corresponding sound knowledge prior to | | | | of reading early on sends the message that |
| enrollment. Why? Because | | | | reading is an important skill. |
| most children come to school with this | | | | You are also introducing and re-enforcing |
| knowledge. Many children's | | | | classroom behaviors such as |
| television programs teach this content and many | | | | sitting quietly and listening.6. Read your children's |
| parents take it upon | | | | favorite books over and over. Start pointing to |
| themselves to teach their children these | | | | the words. The muscles in children's eyes are not |
| concepts as well.Ironically, even though public | | | | fully developed until |
| school curriculums teach these concepts, | | | | they are about ten or eleven years old. When |
| schools consider children who have not mastered | | | | you point to the words, you |
| these concepts | | | | are helping them track along. That is, keeping |
| to be behind their peers. Therefore, parents | | | | their place on the page. |
| should consider applying | | | | Also, they hear the word, see the word, then |
| the following strategies to help their young | | | | eventually recognize the |
| children get ready to read:1. Buy a set of alphabet | | | | word. Thus, they develop some sight word |
| letters cards. Put them at the children's eye | | | | capability.7. Put books in your car. While you drive, |
| level, on the wall, where your children can easily | | | | let your children entertain |
| see them everyday. | | | | themselves turning the pages and looking at the |
| Review the letter names, in groups of seven, | | | | pictures. Change your |
| daily. Say the letter name | | | | selection of books regularly.8. Write notes to |
| and letter sound of each card. IMPORTANT! A | | | | family members and young children who are not |
| letter sound is a small, | | | | yet |
| short sound. Don't add vowel sounds after | | | | reading. They will feel included and be motivated |
| consonants. "C" sound like | | | | to learn to read so |
| "k" not CAA. It's not Ca ba da! It's "c" "b" "d". | | | | they can participate (of course read the notes to |
| When your child masters a | | | | them until they learn to |
| set of seven, go onto another set of seven. If | | | | read).9. Take your children to the library. Let |
| you're unsure about | | | | them pick out books they want |
| teaching your children letter-sounds, DON'T! | | | | you to read to them. Also, choose books you will |
| Leave it to the classroom | | | | enjoy reading aloud to |
| teacher.2. Buy a set of magnetic alphabet letters | | | | them.10. Buy your children books for presents. |
| and put them on the | | | | Wrap them up in bright paper. |
| refrigerator. Let your children play with them. | | | | After they rip the paper off, read the books to |
| Some children are tactile | | | | them.Children who make the connection early on |
| learners. That is, touching the letter shape helps | | | | that the sounds and words |
| them process and learn | | | | we make with our mouth can be converted to |
| the letter's name.3. Write your children's names in | | | | written letters or words |
| block and stick letters (manucript) | | | | have a much easier time learning to read. By |
| clearly and uniformly. And put this on their | | | | teaching your children the |
| bedroom doors. NO | | | | alphabet, reading to them and creating a rich, |
| CURSIVE! Remember, your children are learning a | | | | literate home |
| code. Think of it this | | | | environment, you are sending the message that |
| way - if you were learning and new language | | | | reading is an important |
| that had a different written | | | | skill. One they will be eager to learn.Carol Boles |
| alphabet (such as Chinese), in order for you to | | | | has a master's degree in Special Reading and an |
| learn this new code/ | | | | Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and |
| symbol, the symbols would need to be exactly | | | | Instruction. She has |
| the same every time in | | | | over ten years experience teaching K-12 reading |
| order for you to recognize them and memorize | | | | in public schools. She |
| them.4. Help your children write their names in | | | | now manages her own business and is a |
| other ways. Write their names | | | | member of The Lieurance |
| for them, then let them trace over this. Small | | | | Group, a freelance writers cooperative. |
| children have limited motor | | | | |