PRE-READING / READING

Story Prediction: Allowing your young child to predict what will happen next in a story is an excellent way to develop their understanding of story elements.

Number Word Vocabulary: Building vocabulary is an ongoing process that could last for a year. Pull out your flashcards. Pull number cards 0 – 10. Write the corresponding words, zero, one, two… then help your child match the number word to the corresponding numeral. Once your child can read the number words and match them correctly, add more number cards.

Color Word Matching: Repeat directions above using color swatches. Write the color words on cards and match.

Picture Category Words: Repeat above directions using pictures. Make different groupings: farm animals, zoo animals, toys, vehicles, fruits, vegetables, furniture, etc. Let your child decide which words he/she would like to learn then have your child find a picture or draw one. Then you or he/she write a word card for the picture.

Build Sentences Game: Prepare several small cards with one noun on each card. It may be easier at the beginning to use words that "go together" such as farm animals. Then spread the cards out on the table upside down. The adult "goes first" to model what to do. Turn over two cards. Read the two words out loud. Then make up one or two sentences using those two words. Then put the cards in the discard pile. Continue until you run out of cards, take the discard pile, shuffle the cards and begin again. Extra: If your child is able to write well, at the end have him/her pick a few cards and write a story using the words on the cards.

Word Wall Signs: Work together with your child to make mini signs of words your child knows such as: stop, open, out, off, McDonald's, etc…. hang the word signs up in your child's room and encourage your child to "read" the words. Add more words to the wall as your child shows interest in a word.

Word Puzzles: Make some word puzzles together. Take 4 index cards. Write one word of interest on each card. Allow your child to make the letters "fancy" by coloring the letters. Then take each card and cut it at odd angles to make about 6 pieces to make a jigsaw puzzle. Then mix up the pieces of one card and ask your child to rebuild the puzzle card. Repeat for each word. Then when that task is easy try mixing the pieces from all 6 puzzles at one time.

Magazine Word Clues: Play "Clues"- First have your child cut many printed words from magazines or newspapers. Your child should be able to read these words. Then help your child piece together the words to form sentences. When the sentences make sense, encourage your child to glue the pieces to a paper. As your child matures he/she will be able to produce mini stories using pre-printed words.

Finger Tracking: As you read to your child, use your fingers to point to the words and move your hand from left to right. As your child starts to recognize that the printed words are what you are looking at, allow your child to point to the words from left to right as you read. Stop your child if he/she should start at the right.

Sight Words Practice: Remember, not all words can be sounded out nor do all words need to be sounded out. These words are called sight words. Also not all children learn to read using phonics. Find a website with a good list of sight words such as: the, a, an, and, etc. Make fun games with these words. These are words every reader must learn.

Word Matching: As you probably have done letter matching, now use the sight words to do word matching. Make two cards for each word. Have your child identify if they are the same or different visually and/or reading the words.

Story Comprehension Questions: When you have finished reading a story to your child, ask good questions such as Who? What? Where? When? Then ask your child to tell just the beginning or just the end of the story. As your child matures, ask your child to predict the ending before you read it.

Days of the Week: Post the days of the week on your child's wall. Each day your child picks out the today then yesterday and tomorrow. The days of the week become sight words. Later you can do the same with the names of the months.

Sentence Sense: Pre-write some simple sentences. Write some that make sense and some silly confused groups of words written to look like sentences. Have your child try to read each sentence. Then ask if it makes sense. If yes, then what does it mean.

Missing Letters: Prepare a list of unfinished words. Leave off beginning letters and ask for the correct missing letter. Over time you can change to missing ending letters. Once your child has mastered this try leaving out a short vowel in the middle. For example: ___at, ca___, c__t. This task takes months to truly master.