Reading opens up a world of possibilities. Support your child's journey by fostering a love for letters, sounds, and stories. Together, create a home rich in words and explore reading at every stage.
“There are many little ways to enlarge your world. Love of books is best of all.” - Jacqueline Kennedy
Key Concepts:
- We are NOT born with the ability to visually recognize letters and words. When your child learns to read, their brain will re-wire to create an area for visual recognition of letters.
- There is a Five Stage Model (developed by Dr. Maryann Wolf) of how children learn to read. Right now, most children are in stages 1-2.
- The Emergent Pre-Reader (6 months - 5-6 years old) - children are learning about letter sounds, words, how illustrations connect to story lines, etc.)
- The Novice Reader (5-7 years old) - children are learning the relationships between letters and sounds and between printed and spoken works. Children begin to read simple texts with “high frequency words” and can “sound out” 1 syllable words.
- The Decoding Reading (7-9 years old)
- The Fluent, Comprehending Reader (9-15 years old) The Expert Reader (16 years +)
- By speaking to your child, reading to them, and telling stories, you’re already supporting your child in learning to read!
What to Try:
- Make your home a world of words - label items throughout your home and make a written schedule of your child’s activities (use capital letters).
- Write together - ask your child to dictate a story or create a shopping list with you and keep supplies of paper, pencils, and markers within easy reach (make them washable and thank us later)
- Let your child read to you - listen carefully as your child reads (or as your child makes up a story to go with the pictures). Let your child know how proud you are of his or her efforts and skills!
- Be word detectives! Look for familiar words and letters in a story.