Six Simple Literacy Skills
These tips will help even the youngest children
Children get ready to read years before they start school. Grown ups can prepare children for reading by helping them have fun with words and stories.
Talking to children, asking them to share their stories in words or pictures, playing with books and singing rhyming songs creates the foundation for strong literacy skills.Six Simple Literacy Skills
This article originally ran in the Summer 2009 issue of PLAY Times.
Talking to children, asking them to share their stories in words or pictures, playing with books and singing rhyming songs creates the foundation for strong literacy skills.Six Simple Literacy Skills
- Print Motivation: Read books yourself. Ask, "Want to read a book with me?"
- Vocabulary: Repeat early attempts to identify objects. Add descriptors, "Yes, a humongous truck!"
- Narrative Skills: Talk about your day at bedtime. Ask your child to fill in the blanks, "Today we went on a walk, and a _____ followed us."
- Print Awareness: Let your child turn the pages of a book. Notice everyday print, "That sign says 'stop'."
- Letter Knowledge: Write out words together. Ask, "What letter does your name start with?"
- Phonological Awareness: Sing silly songs: change the vowels or replace a word. Ask, "What word rhymes with lame; ham or hat?"
This article originally ran in the Summer 2009 issue of PLAY Times.