Would you like to teach your preschooler how to read? It's quite simple and you're probably teaching them without even realizing it. That's because it really only involves one step. Read together!
Invite your child to sit on your lap or find a nice, cozy spot on the couch. Pick out a book that will keep his/her interest (kids at this age particularly enjoy books with beautiful illustrations, simple words and a text that repeats itself). Make it a special time together so that they associate reading with happy memories. Find a favorite book and read it over and over again.
In the co-op this year, the preschoolers and I started each morning by reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. It's a silly book about the letters in the alphabet climbing up a coconut tree. But as the tree gets fuller and fuller we wonder, "Chicka, Chicka, boom boom. Will there be enough room?" This question is asked over and over, allowing the children to memorize the text and "read" out loud with me. This is a joy to read, allowing you to use many different expressions and different voices for the different letters that are speaking. It gets really fun when you see one of the kids pick up the book to "read" to themselves and notice them using the same voices.
Does your child have a favorite story that they want to read over and over again? This is a great thing! It's very helpful in the process of teaching your preschooler to read. They will start to realize that the words on the page stand for something because they don't change. They stay the same each time we read the story! If you point to each word as you are reading, they will begin to see that each word has it's own meaning. Before you know it, they will be "reading" the book to you. Don't worry that they are only saying the words from memory. If you have been following the words with your fingers, chances are your child will do the same. Even though they are speaking the words from memory, eventually they will begin to associate certain letter sounds with the letter. A great achievement in the process of learning how to read!
So the next time you ask your child to pick out a book and you get tempted to hide the one that you have already read a hundred times, remember that you are teaching your preschooler a very important thing. How to read.
Photo credit: taliesin from morguefile.com
This really works! My 3.5 year old spent the year with Jodi this year, and we have now started the Kindergarten program by Catholic Heritage Curriculum! The first 15 weeks of the program involve letter and sound recognition, which he had already learned with Jodi and with his big sister. All of a sudden I feel a step ahead with him without having done all the work!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Jodi! Thanks for posting this.
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