10 WAYS to Prepare Children for Reading

1. Read aloud to your child every day from a variety of picture books.
2. Make reading time fun.  Ask questions about the story and help your child connect the tale to real life.
3. As you read, point out each word with your finger.  This helps teach that each word we speak matches a word on a page.
4. Let your child flip through books independently.  Encourage pretend reading and guessing what a story is about from its pictures.
5. Set up a quiet and comfortable reading spot where your child can spend time alone with books.
6. Help your child learn the alphabet.  Sing the alphabet song.  Point out letters and words on signs, on cereal boxes, etc.
7. Tell your child the names of things at home and wherever you go.
8. Play name games.  Ask your child, “What is this called?”  Confirm correct answers: “Yes, that is a hammer.”
9. Use “sound clapping” to teach words.  Say a word and clap your hands for each syllable (e.g. “Birthday” gets two claps.  “Banana” three).  Then ask your child to clap as you say it.
10. Enjoy rhyme time.  Say, “Cat hat, bat.  What else rhymes with that?”  Help your child if needed:  “How about mat?”  Repeat this with other simple rhyming words.

 

**from St. Theresa School in Palatine**