The best time for your child to start learning to read and write is
when he or she is very young. This is when your child is best able to begin
developing positive attitudes towards reading and writing as well as some
fundamental reading and writing skills.
As
your child begins to read and write, discuss your child’s ideas with him or her
– rather than just talking about the techniques of reading and writing. Such
discussion helps your child to understand what it really means to be able to
read and write.
Learning to read and write does not happen all at
once. It involves a number of stages that eventually lead to fluency and
independence. The diagram that follows provides an overview of these stages in
reading and writing.
Stages
in Reading and Writing
1.
Before he or she actually begins to read and write, the child:
learns
about words by playing with blocks that have letters on them, looking at
picture books, playing with magnetic letters, and so on learns about words from
songs, rhymes, traffic signs, and logos on packages of food
learns
how print works – for example, where a story starts and finishes and which way
the print proceeds likes to look at books and to be read to begins to
understand that his or her own thoughts can be put into print using pictures,
symbols, and letters
begins
to behave like a reader – for example, holds a book and pretends to read begins
to behave like a writer – for example, holds a pencil and pretends to write
uses
both pictures and memory to tell and retell a story
2.
When he or she is first learning to read and write, the child:
becomes
aware that people often tell stories or relate information using written
materials shows interest in suggestions for reading begins to match written
words to spoken words and to see relationships between sounds and letters
begins
to experiment with reading, and is willing to try to say words out loud when
reading finds the pictures helpful in understanding the words, and sees that
the words convey a message consistent with the pictures
begins to experiment with writing – for example, uses
pictures, writes sym- bols that resemble letters, writes groups of random
letters, writes words using some real letters and puts spaces between the words
understands that illustrations and writing are different
3.
As he or she learns to read and write some simple materials, the child:
shows
more confidence in using a variety of methods, such as visual cues, to identify
words in reading materials is able to adapt his or her reading to different
types of reading materials
recognizes
many words, knows how to make sense of the words, and is willing to try reading
new things writes simple sentences, using real letters, proper space between
words, and some punctuation – for example, periods and question marks
enjoys
writing and shows interest in writing in different ways – for example, writes
grocery lists, short messages, greeting cards, and labels begins to plan,
revise, and edit simple pieces of writing
4.
As a fluent reader and writer, the child:
uses
a variety of methods to identify words and their meaning while reading connects
ideas and experiences in books to his or her own knowledge and experience
is able to predict events in a story and to read a
variety of materials sees reading and writing as good things to do, and reads
and writes on his or her own initiative and for specific purposes begins to use
a variety of strategies to spell words correctly uses a variety of types of
sentences when writing (for example, statements and questions), and begins to
organize sentences into paragraphs uses a range of strategies for planning,
revising, editing, and publishing his or her own written materials
You
are your child’s first and most important teacher. When you help your child
learn to read, write, and think critically, you are opening the door to the
rich world of learning.
For
your child, learning to read can begin with listening to you reading stories
and newspaper articles aloud. Before long, your child will show interest in
reading stories and other materials on his or her own. It is very important to
talk about the ideas in a book or magazine, to ask questions that encourage
your child to think, and to let your child talk to you about his or her
responses to what has been read.
Your
child can learn how to read and write more easily with your help. With regular
practice, he or she will develop fluency in both reading and writing. At the
same time, your child will also learn to think critically about the stories or
informational materials that he or she reads.
Families
can incorporate literacy activities anywhere – developing literacy is not just
what children do while at school. It is important that you look for
opportunities for your child to learn wherever you are and whenever you can.
Literacy is part of every day in some way, no matter what you are doing or
where you are. Literacy skills are used in all kinds of situations – for
example, when reading food labels, when talking with other children on the
soccer field, when discussing a movie with the family, or when writing lists to
be posted on the refrigerator.
It’s important for you to encourage your child and to
show that you have confidence in him or her. Avoid comparing your child’s
performance with that of other children. Remember that learning to read and write
does not take place all at once. Also, learning to read and write is not always
easy, and children need to know that everyone learns at different rates.
Children learn to read and write over time with lots of practice and with
support from parents and teachers.
Tip
1 | Talk With Your Child
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Talking
to your child and encouraging him or her to talk to you are extremely
important. Listening and speaking are a child’s introduction to language and
literacy. Activities such as talking and singing will teach your child the
sounds and structures of language, making it easier for him or her to learn to
read and write.
Here
are some things you can do to help your child build an appreciation for words
and language:
Tell
family stories about yourself, your child’s grandparents, and other relatives.
Encourage your child to tell you about his or her day – about activities,
sports, and games. Ask lots of questions so that your child knows you are
interested in what
he
or she is thinking about. Talk with your child as much as possible about things
you are doing and thinking. Encourage your child to tell you what he or she
thinks or feels. Don’t interrupt! Let your child find the words he or she wants
to use. Sing songs, such as the alphabet song, and recite nursery rhymes,
encouraging your child to join in. Play rhyming and riddle games.
Tip
2 | Make Reading and Writing Fun
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Reading
aloud to your child is the best way to get him or her interested in reading.
Not only is it fun for the whole family, but it will also help your child to
learn what reading is about. Encourage your child to write also. Here are some
things you can do to help make reading and writing fun for your child:
Read
all kinds of materials – stories, poems, informational books, magazines,
newspaper articles, and comics. Read stories aloud with drama and excitement!
Use different voices for dif- ferent characters in a story. Use your child’s
name instead of a character’s name. Make puppets and use them to act out the
story.
Re-read your child’s favourite stories as many times
as your child wants to hear them, and choose books and authors that your child
enjoys.
Read
stories that have repetitive parts, and encourage your child to join in. Point
to the words as you read them. This will help your child make the con- nection
between the spoken words and the words on the page. Discuss the themes of a
story, and ask questions about the characters. Ask questions that make your
child think about what might happen next or what he or she might do in the same
situation.
Discuss
the main ideas in an informational piece, such as a newspaper article.
Encourage relatives and friends to give your child books or other reading
materials as gifts. Take your child to the local library. Look at CD-ROMs,
videos, magazines, and the Internet, as well as books. Get a library card,
which is free, so that he or she can borrow books.
Subscribe
to a magazine for your child. He or she will love receiving mail! Write notes
to your child on paper or by e-mail.
Encourage your child to write lists and to write cards
or send e-mail messages to friends and relatives. Always remember to have fun.
The more you enjoy yourself, the more your child will enjoy the experience.
Tip
3 | Read Every Day
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Children
respond well to routine, and reading is something that you and your child can
look forward to every day. By taking the time to read and to talk with your
child, you are showing that this is important and fun to do.
Try
to read with your child as often as possible. It is the most important thing
you can do to help him or her learn at school. It will also allow you to spend
high-quality time together and to develop a strong and healthy relationship
that is built on sharing of ideas. Here are some ideas:
Start
reading with your child when he or she is very young. Set aside a special time
each day when you can give your full attention to reading with your child.
Choose a comfortable spot to read, where you can be close to your child. Create
a “reading area” there together. Choose many different books. If your child’s
first language is not English, choose books both in English and in your child’s
first language. A strong basis in a child’s first language makes it easier for
him or her to learn a sec- ond or third language – in this case,
Vary
the length of reading time depending on your child’s age, interests, and grade.
For young children, several short sessions (of 10 minutes each) may be better
than one long session (of 30 minutes). Read slowly so that your child can make
a mental picture of what is hap- pening in the story.
Praise
your child for talking about his or her ideas and asking questions. When you
and your child are away from home, take along some books, maga- zines, and
books-on-tape for your child to read and listen to. Even after your child has
learned how to read, keep reading to him or her. By reading stories that will
interest your child but are above his or her read- ing level, you can stretch
your child’s understanding and keep alive the magic of sharing books together.
Tip
4 | Talk About Books--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talking
about the books you read is just as important as reading them! Talking with
your child about a story or other book helps your child understand it and
connect it to his or her own experience of life. It also helps enrich your
child’s vocabulary with new words and phrases. Encourage your child to read
infor- mational materials, such as children’s science magazines or websites.
Talk about the materials with your child and ask plenty of questions.
Here
are some ways to help your child learn the skills needed for comprehen- sion,
reasoning, and critical thinking:
Ask
your child what he or she would like to read about. Read and talk about your
own favourite books from childhood.
Look
at the cover and the title of a storybook with your child, and ask your child
what he or she thinks might happen in the story. Encourage your child to ask
questions and to make comments on the pictures and the story before, during,
and after reading it.
Encourage
your child to think critically about all books. Does he or she agree or
disagree with the author? Why? Is the information accurate or not? Think out
loud about a book as you read, and encourage your child to do the same. For
example, ask “Does this make sense? Why or why not?”
Give your child time to think about the book, and then
talk about it with him or her again a few days later.
Tip
5 | Listen to Your Child Read
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As
your child learns to read, it is very important to listen to him or her read
aloud. Reading to you will give your child a chance to improve his or her read-
ing skills with practice. By doing this, he or she will build confidence.
As
you listen to your child, remember that your reactions are very important.
Above all, listen without interrupting. Be enthusiastic and praise your child
as often as you can. If possible, be specific with your praise so that your
child will know what he or she is doing well. Finally, don’t forget to
encourage your child to read on his or her own. Here are some tips:
Show
your child that you are enjoying the book by showing interest and asking
questions. Be patient. Allow your child time to figure out tricky words. Show
your child how he or she can learn from mistakes.
Pick
a time for reading when there will not be any interruptions. Make sure that
your child selects books that aren’t too difficult. Don’t worry
if
your child chooses books that are a little easier than the ones he or she reads
at school. On the other hand, if your child chooses a book that is slightly
above his or her grade level, praise your child for choosing it and be prepared
to help where necessary. Your child will see that it is good to chal- lenge
oneself.
Encourage
your child to “listen” to his or her own reading. Listening will help him or
her to hear mistakes and try to fix them. When your child is just beginning to
read, you may want to “share” the read- ing. You can take turns, or try reading
together.
After reading, talk about the story to make sure that
your child understood it.
