Learning to Read

I have had some people ask me recently how to help their preschooler learn how to read.  Although I used to be a Reading Specialist as well as 1st & 2nd grade teacher, I don't feel like I'm am expert (especially in preschool reading).  But here are a few things that I do know.

1.  Read to your child, every day if possible.  This is #1 on the list for a reason.  All research points to this as being super important in children learning to read.  From personal experience this has taught James tons.  Not only does it teach your child how a book works, book language, but also increases their vocabulary.  {This is awesome to do as part of your bedtime ritual!}

2.  Look for book topics that interest your child.  As you know my child loves to read books about trains, cars, and construction vehicles.  It doesn't always have to be the most high quality literature.  Just get books in your little ones hands.

3.  Reread their favorites over and over again.  This will help them memorize some books, which is the beginning of reading.  I seriously have memorized so many books because I had to read them every.single.day for months on end!  I know that it's not fun for us grown ups, but children thrive with routine.

4.  Let them "read".  I have written read in quotes because some of the beginning stages of reading are memorizing books and approximating text.  Your child will likely memorize his or her favorite book and that is amazing!  Another thing is to let them tell the story based on the pictures.  Using the pictures is a natural progression to learning to read. Sometimes you may find your child sitting on his or her own looking at the pictures rereading the book.  Encourage that!

5.  Have fun!  Learning to read should be fun.  If this is not a fun time for your family and most especially your little one, he or she will not want to engage in reading.  Don't pressure them, just follow their lead.

6.  Educational TV.  Seriously y'all PBS has some awesome, awesome shows to help little ones learn how to read.  Super Why and Word World are two of our favorite shows and I think that Super Why really helped James to learn his letters.  We all know our kiddos are most likely going to be watching tv {I mean momma has to shower sometime , right!}  so it might as well be teaching them something!

I hope that this helps.  The bottom line is reading to your child is important, but it should be a fun time of the day.  Don't worry about having your child read before they get to kindergarten.  It's your job to give them a foundation, but the teacher will teach them how to read.  {and have lots of books at just the right level!}