Like every other new skill in life, reading is learned at different paces and on different timelines for children. Some children show interest in reading at age 3, while others not until age 8. Don’t panic!! : ) Just as children learn to walk at different times, children pick up the skills of reading at different times. As a parent, you can make language fun and read to your child often, as long as s/he does not become frustrated, bored, or tired with the process. When they do, it’s time to take a break and go play!
The following are some components that can be introduced to children, as they begin to play with language and print. Combined, these offer a ‘balanced literacy’ approach…no more ‘just phonics’ or ‘just whole language’ debate…a good balance is all you need! : ) Phonological awareness comes first, and then a combination of the rest provides a completeness to the literacy puzzle.
Phonological Awareness-rhyming and listening for beginning, middle, and end sounds in words
Phonics-getting one’s ‘mouth ready’ for individual sounds, sounding out short words, chunking larger words into smaller readable parts, and word play or manipulation
Comprehension-retelling a story (characters, setting-when? where?, problem, 3-4 events, solution) OR Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? (more for nonfiction), sequencing events, summarizing, reflecting, making personal connections
Fluency and Sight Words-practice, use, and repetition for learning dolch words–great resources at www.mrsperkins.com
Vocabulary-making word notebooks, classifying groups of words by what they have in common in regard to their meaning
Writing-journal connections to stories read or question connections to nonfiction books read, spending time talking about basic components of grammar (capitalization, punctuation, revising, editing, letter formation, pencil grip)
Love these sites for parent literacy resources! When in doubt, keep things simple and fun! In addition, check out the links in the lower right-hand corner of this screen.
http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources.htm
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs.cfm?from= (scroll down to ‘literacy’ and ‘all’ articles–then do the search)
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