Children have much to learn. Most of this will be taught in school, but one place where parents can have a huge impact is teaching a child how to read. While reading is obviously taught in school, children benefit considerably if the foundations of reading are taught at home. Not every child is ready for independent reading at age 3, but there are many steps parents can take, even when children are still infants, that will help immensely later on.
1. Lay the Groundwork
1. Lay the Groundwork
Reading to children, even when they are very young, is important. Doing something as simple as following the words with their fingers will help a child grasp the concept that the words on the page are connected with the story that is being told. At first, a child will not understand why these two things are connected, but that curiosity will come soon enough. What's important at first is to develop that curiosity. Even toddlers will memorize the stories in their favorite books and parents might notice them "reading" to dolls and stuffed animals.
Learning the alphabet and phonetics are another important component. These lessons can also start very early, and should be fun. Singing the "Alphabet Song" and reading ABC books together will help them learn the sounds of the letters. Some parents invest in phonetics CDs or computer programs, but taking advantage of random teaching moments is often just as effective, if not more so. Learning to read should be fun and kids shouldn't feel like they are being grilled. This might bring a negative connotation to reading. Pop quizzes while a child is doing something else, like eating lunch or playing with toys. Asking questions such as "What letter does dog start with?" or "What letter does blocks start with?" are good foundational questions. Keep quizzes short, and if a child starts to get frustrated, change the subject. Lessons, especially those with young children, don't have to be learned in one day.
2. Test the Waters
Once you sense that your child has a good grasp on letter sounds, begin to transition their reading skills to books. You can do this both by having them practice with books that consist primarily of short simple words or picking a few words to highlight in books they already know. If using the highlighting method, start with words under 5 letters long. As children watch the page for their words, they will begin to grasp some of the other words on their own. Learning to read in this manner makes the process more interactive and helps reinforce the bond you and your child share.
3. Have Fun - Don't RushThe exact pace by which a child will learn to read will vary from child to child, so the most important part of the process is to have fun and let them go at their own pace. Learning to read is about more than phonetics. It involves learning to value words and stories, and of course, your time together.
Kylie Martinez likes to write about education, literature & www.flowerdelivery.net.
Thank you, Kylie Martinez, for this very informative article. I'm sure my readers will appreciate it.
If you are looking for a book on teaching your child to read, please check out TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ IN 100 EASY LESSONS by Englemann, Haddox & Bruner.
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