1. Teaching children what they need to know before they learn
to read. Every Child Ready to Read @ your library, PLA and ALSC
logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association
and are used with permission.
2. Narrative Skills Telling Stories Good Narrative Skills help
children remember what they have read; they develop good
comprehension skills.
3. Print Motivation Loving books & reading Children who
love shared reading will work hard to learn to read.
4. Vocabulary Knowing the names of things Children who start
school with a large vocabulary become better readers and are more
successful in school than those who do not.
5. Phonological Awareness Sounds--hearing small sounds in words
& letters Children who can hear the sounds in letters and
syllables will be able to sound out unfamiliar words when they
begin to learn to read.
6. Print Conventions Print Awarenessnoticing print all aroundin
signs and labels Children begin making a connection between print
and the spoken word. Children know how to follow words on a
page.
7. Letter Knowledge Knowing about letters Children know that
the same letter looks differentand that letters have sounds.
8. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge is what children
already know. Children learn by building on what they know, so the
more background knowledge they have, the easier learning to read
and learning are. Learning about ice, snow, & color when we
paint with snow!
9. These 5 Practices Teach the Skills Studies show that the
best ways to teach the skills are through these 5 practices:
10. Reading Reading is the single most important thing we can
do with our children to get them ready to learn to read. BUT how
children experience shared reading makes a difference. Involve your
child as you read and ALWAYS keep it fun!
11. Writing Writing and reading develop side by side. Writing
includes scribbling, coloring, and all kinds of crafting. Writing
helps children learn that print has meaning along with small motor
and eye-hand coordination.
12. Talking Talking is key to helping children get ready to
learn to read. Talk a loteven with your baby. Think aloud.
Verbalize and imitate your child's gestures and babbles. Use a wide
variety of words.
13. TalkingStrive for 5 Have conversationsask questions &
count to 5 before prompting or answering. Aim for at least 5 turns
between adult and child (adult-child; adult-child; adult-child...)
Answer for your young children and keep the conversation goingbut
imitate their babbling responses, too. Ask your older child
open-ended questions.
14. Playing Talking is easy during play. When children pretend,
they are getting ready to put meaning to the printed word. Children
can learn every early literacy skill during play, especially when
parents are involved at their child's level.
15. Singing (& Rhyming) Teach the rhythm and sounds of
language and words. Teach listening skills, rhyme and
vocabulary.
16. Children need to be taught all the early literacy
skillsfrom birth!
17. Together we can all help our children get ready to learn to
read!