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May
25

Creating A Reading Environment

By childrensgst

As parents, how vital is our attitude about reading? We need to be engaged and provide continuous opportunities and encouragement to read and continuing to read.

It is critical that reading practice start before beginning school. Many students struggling in school, had limited access to books. So how do you “kick start” reading skills?

Make it a game– read the cereal box, menus, marks on everything. We used to play the alphabet game– when as were driving in the car, the children would try to spot each letter of the alphabet on road signs, billboards, company signs, etc. Sometimes we would make it simpler by allowing car license plates.

Take turns reading a simple book like those by Dr. Seuss or for something new Lunchpail Books http://www.lunchpailbooks.com

These type of books use a controlled or restrictive vocabulary making it simpler for young readers to read. So grab an early reader book and take turns, page by page, etc. Discuss the tale to encourage comprehension. Question a teacher– they know which students have had practice at home.

So you read? Many adults stop reading after school. Do you read to learn or for fun? I have a terrible habit of only reading non-fiction… so much to learn. I can only name at the most about a dozen fiction books that I have read… and that was over two years ago!

Reading Must Be Taught

Language development is natural, reading not so much. Parents must spend some time teaching reading. There is a plethora of methodologies for this. I started my children out with site reading, putting simple sight reading words, like see, run, go– and of course proper nouns including the child’s name, sibling names, pets, etc. We would assemble the cards into sentences. Some of the kids learned quick and very young (under 3)… others we closer to six before their reading skill took off. Use books to help the child explore the world.

Children who already know about their world and the purpose of language will be better prepared to learn how to read when they enter school. Parents can help their children prepare by providing a print-rich environment in the home. Magazines, newspapers, and a collection of high-quality children’ books provide material that parents can read aloud to their children.

Emergent Reading

Let children pretend to read… it’s sort of like an air guitar. They will develop a positive attitude regarding reading this way. This is known as emergent reading. Children are not really reading from the books, but reciting the tales as they remember them. Encourage this retelling since it promotes the value of reading as a highly desired skill. Certain toys are also useful in promoting literacy skills such as alphabet blocks and magnetic letters that can be manipulated to make words. Children become familiar with the letters of the alphabet and with their shapes and sounds through these activities. Dolls and puppets can be used to act out tales.

Using Neighborhood to Foster Skills
The local neighborhood is a print-rich environment that offers many opportunities to expose children to words, symbols, and logos, which will increase their general knowledge. Supermarkets are particularly excellent for increasing literacy skills. Parents can have their children help in making a shopping list, looking at coupons from flyers and talking about the letters and signs in the store that often are paired with a picture. Parents can also help children make selections from restaurant menus, point out words on signs and read the schedules of buses, subways, and trains.
These are just a few of the ways that parents provide the foundation for building their children’s literacy skills. Providing print-rich environments, engaging children in meaningful discussions with proving questions, and teaching children about letters and words will better prepare the to learn how to read when they enter school. Perhaps most vital of all is modeling that reading is fun and is part of the everyday activities that the whole family enjoys.

Find out realistic advice about working with children – make sure to go through this publication. The time has come when concise information is really within your reach, use this chance.

A Childrens Book Blog

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