Posts Tagged ‘Reading tips’

Diary of an Emerging Reader: Developing Pre-Reading Skills (One Step at a Time)

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Before reading begins, a child must first understand and master key pre-reading skills. Skills like learning the alphabet, shape recognition, matching, sorting, learning patterns and sequencing.
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Wilson, age 3, our reader-in-training, is doing pretty well with alphabet recognition (give or take 3 or 4… or 8 letters, depending on when I ask him) so I thought I’d spend some time this week focusing on specific pre-reading skills. The My First Bob Books sets are wonderful in that they build upon simple concepts (i.e. shape identification) and then progress to more advanced skills (such as matching and sorting and sequencing.) The sizing and color-coding of the books is really helpful too, especially when you’re dealing with a short attention span and a child who likes to dump all of his books out on the floor.

We started with the red color-coded books, the first books in the My First Bob Books: Pre Reading Skills set that focus on shape recognition and matching. We breezed through those; I could tell that Wilson really understands his shapes. But then he grabbed one of the yellow books, the “Guessing Machine,” which helps kids understand the concept of sequencing. It’s book number 11 out of 12 in the set so I knew that by following Bob Books’ numbered progression, this would be a relatively advanced concept. And it was. Sequencing – the ability to predict or guess what happens next in a story – was a completely foreign concept for him. So now I know what he doesn’t know. This was a really important realization for me as a parent. And, truth be told, I’m not sure I really understood what the term sequencing meant exactly –and why it was important — until I started going through the My First Bob Books with Wilson. Now I get it. I can talk about sequencing concepts in our every day conversations (“What happens next?” You put on your shoes and then we’ll walk to the park…”) to help him grasp the step-by-step pre -reading and literacy skills that build a good foundation for reading. mf-bob-books-1

Do you have any pre-reading skill development tips you’d like to share? Let us know.

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Posted in Diary of an emerging reader, Reading foundation skills, pre reading skills | 1 Comment »

Video Blog: Five Tips for Teaching Your Child to Read

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Taking the first steps into reading with your child should be fun for both of you. Sometimes how to make that happen is a bit of a mystery! These short videos will give you simple, clear suggestions of several early reading techniques to use with your child.

Identifying shapes and letters
Learning to identify and name shapes is an important pre-reading skill. Pay attention to how Paul’s dad helps him find the circle and identify the triangle. First he asks a question, then he waits for Paul. This gives Paul a chance to figure it out for himself, and also communicates to Paul that his answer is important. It is essential that children are given time to try before you step in.

Talking about the sounds that letters make
When reading with your child, be respectful and accurate. If the child does not use the correct letter or word, do not dwell on it, but calmly give him accurate information. Do not let silliness sidetrack you into accepting a wrong answer. This will not help with learning. Praise immediately when he answers correctly.

Talking about the story
To develop a love of reading, children need to fall in love with the story. Take time to talk about the characters, actions and emotions in a book. Encourage your child to engage with the illustrations as well as the writing. Ask your child what is happening in the story. The entire early reading experience, including your attention, a fun story, and early reading success, can build a love a books that will last a lifetime.

Giving praise
Giving praise instructs and encourages your child to read accurately. It’s important to notice achievements large and small, when a child is learning to read. Your calm consistency and gentle approval make your child’s first steps into reading a successful and happy experience.

And finally…
Enjoy yourselves!
With a few simple techniques, a warm couch, some snuggly quiet time, and the right book, learning to read can be fun and satisfying for you and your child, every step of the way.

Do you have any reading tips or video blogs you’d like to share? Let us know.

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Posted in Reading foundation skills, Reading tips, pre reading skills | No Comments »

Setting the Stage for Reading

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

“Reading is a basic life skill. It is a cornerstone for a child’s success in school and throughout life.”–Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading

While published in 1985, this report contains invaluable insights that are timeless as well as forward thinking. Many of them cannot be overstated. We’d like to share some with you:readingbbooks1

Reading is integral to language development. Reading must be seen as part of a child’s general language development and not separate from listening, speaking, and writing.

Parents play a huge role in learning to read. Reading begins in the home. Reading to your child, offering encouragement, visiting the library and allowing your child to watch you enjoy reading all have a direct effect on your child’s future reading successes.

The single most important activity for building the eventual success of reading is reading aloud to children. It’s that easy! Read to your child every day.

Becoming a skilled reader is a journey that involves many steps. And like learning to play a musical instrument, it is a skill that is not mastered once and for all. Reading begins with a child’s first literacy experiences and continues to improve through daily practice and use throughout adulthood.

Motivation is one of the keys to learning to read. Offering encouragement, assistance and patience every step of the way will put your child on the right path to enjoyable reading experiences and successes that will last a lifetime.

As always, your comments and reading success stories are always appreciated.

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Posted in early literacy | 2 Comments »

Ten Hints for Teaching Your Child to Read

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Ten Hints for Teaching Your Child to Read

Learning to read should be easy and fun! Here are our suggestions for teaching children to read:

  1. First of all, read to your child. Help your student choose age-appropriate books.
  2. Share ideas about books you read to foster understanding, interest and comprehension. Be attuned to your child’s img_14751interests.
  3. Make up stories together. Write and read them, pointing out short repeated words.
  4. Encourage drawing or painting pictures. Scribbling is fun, and it is also valuable for forming hand-eye coordination, which helps reading and is essential in writing.
  5. Help the child write his/her name.
  6. Help with writing short words; give lots of space on the piece of paper. Keep the process short, fun and happy.
  7. Play board games, word games, memory games and card games, and use table toys that enhance coordination.
  8. Sing rhyming songs. Read rhyming books and poems. Encourage children to fill in the expected words as you read.
  9. Teach the word families used in each book. Point out what happens when the first sound changes and how easy reading a list of words becomes.
  10. Make reading sessions fit your child’s attention span. Readily help your child and have a warm and fun time together.

Have any more tips you’d like to share? Let us know!

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Posted in Reading tips | 1 Comment »