Research based tips on teaching early readers

Every parent dreams of their child or children becoming readers. Reading effortlessly opens the gateway to endless possibilities. Research has taught us to become skilled and confident readers over time, children need lots of opportunities to:

• Build spoken language by talking and listening.
• Learn about print and books.
• Learn the sounds of spoken language (this is called phonological awareness).
• Learn the letters of the alphabet.
• Be read to and read on their own.
• Learn and use letter-sound relationships (this is called phonics).
• Spell and write.
• Develop the ability to read quickly and naturally (this is called fluency).
• Learn new words and build their knowledge of what words mean (this is called vocabulary).
• Build their knowledge of the world.
• Build their ability to understand what they read (this is called comprehension).

Enrich your child's life in becoming a reader. Here are great ideas researched based from National Institute for Literacy, designed exclusively for parents.

What parents can do at home:

1. Create a simple, authentic conversation, talk to your child to build their listening and talking skills. Example:  Dinnertime is a great way to ignite listening and talking skills. Walking to school, waiting for the bus, getting ready for school. *Power tip - Ask questions that will encourage him/her to talk, and not just give yes or no answers.
2. Imagination get the creative juices flowing! Ask questions that encourage him/her to expand on their stories. For example: "Why didn't the dog just run away?"
3. Recent family photos can be used to spark a conversation. "Describe each picture, who is in it, what's happening, and where is the picture taken."
4. Practice listening to your child's questions patiently and answer them using the same patience. Can't answer right away, go on a scavenger hunt to find the answer in a book or searching the internet.
5. Help your child make connections between print and pictures as you read. Finding the details, and pointing to words that name those details.
6. Play word games - Try this on for size "How many words can you say that rhyme with fox? With bill?" Easy isn't it?

These research based tips are best practices and certainly will give your child or children a head start for becoming skilled, confident readers.

Reference: Armbruster, B, Lehr, F., Osborn, J. (2003). National Institute for Literacy