Preschool: A Child Become A Reader (Link and Printable Pdf booklet): Reading Readiness

Below is a link to a very good parent/teacher resource about preparing preschool children with the reading readiness skills needed to learn to read once they are in elementary school.  

The book is designed for children birth to preschool.  Below is a link to the information:

http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/html/parent_guides/birth_to_pre.html

You can also find the actual printable PDF version of the book at:

http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/publications.html 

(Look under 2006 for "A Child Becomes A Reader")

Preschool Language and Literacy: Video Link to How to Interactive Shared Reading

http://www.google.com/

The Best Valentine's Day gift for your child is your time...spending 15-20 minutes a day reading with your child is a gift that will last a life time!  Here is another video to show you how to make story time more interactive with your child or class.  Reading to your child is great, but add in talking to your child during the reading of the story is even greater.  You are your child's first teacher...here are some tools to help you on your journey with your child.


http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/IDR/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm

Preschool Language and Literacy: Video Link to How to Teach Phonoglogical Awareness

Here is a link to video that teaches what phonological awareness is and how to teach it to your class or your own children. 


http://dww.ed.gov/media/ECE/PreSchoolLit/PA/Learn/flashoverview/index.htm


I encourage you to watch the video to learn how to help prepare your children for school so they can successfully learn to read once they get there.

Learning Letters and Letter Sounds: Alphabet puzzles

http://www.amazon.com/

Alphabet puzzles are a wonderful toy for children.  Be sure to buy one that has both upper case and lower case letters.  

This type of puzzle is a great one for an adult to do with the child.  

As your child picks up letters to place in the puzzle, talk about the letter and the picture that begins with the later.  Do this each time you do the puzzle together.  

Once your child can tell you almost all the letters, you can start focusing on the sound each letter makes.  Talk about the words that begin with that sound.  Both letters usually have a pictures of an object that begins with the letters sound.  Isolate the sound so your child can hear the letter sound, then say the objects name again.  

For example:  The pictures are of a wagon and watch.  Ask your child what the pictures are of where the W or w would go.  Then say the word wagon...then the "w" sound...ask your child to repeat the sound.  Then say the name of the object again...wagon or watch.