Six Skills

Print Motivation: Being interested in and enjoying books

• Read when you and your child are in a good mood.  Stop if either of you get tired or distracted.
• Choose books that you enjoy.
• Let your child see you reading
• Make reading fun!  If children enjoy books, they will want to learn to read.

Vocabulary: Knowing the name of things and events.

• Children's books typically use three times more "rare" words than everyday conversation, exposing children to words they would not normally hear.
• Talk with your children all the time about what is going on around them, what they are feeling or what you are doing.
• When reading, expand on the story to add more vocabulary.
• The more words they know, the easier it will be to learn to read.

Letter Knowledge: Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters everywhere.

• Look for alphabet books and songs.
• Write your child's name or something that interests them (i.e. dinosaurs or princesses).
• Make letters from clay or play-dough.
• Point out letters when you see them.

Print Awareness: Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and how to follow the written word on a page.

• Trace the words on the page as you read them.
• Pick books with bold or unusual fonts.
• Point out the print that surrounds you everyday: on signs, at the supermarket, in restaurants, and more!
• Let your child hold the book and turn the pages as you read.

Narrative Skills: The ability to describe things and events, and tell stories.

• Ask open-ended questions such as, "what," "where," "when," "why," and "how" when reading together.
• Choose books with few words and let your child tell you the story.
• Let your child tell you about what they are doing, or have done.
• Ask them to explain a picture they drew.

Phonological Awareness: Being able to hear, and play with, the smaller sounds in words.

• Expose your children to lots of rhythm and rhyme.
• Say nursery rhymes.
• Sing!  Add actions to the songs you sing.
• Make up silly, nonsense words.
• Practice rhyming words.

Reading lists, brochures and helpful links.

 

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