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    • How One Learns to Read

    Parents

    How One Learns to Read

    If a child could give us a step by step account of how they learn to read, this is what they would say….this is after 1000 books read aloud and lots of talk!

    "First I invent most of the words since I don’t know what a letter is or the names of many letters."

    		  

    • They pretend to follow the words with their finger and say something.
      "I use the pictures to help me tell the story."
    		  

    • When a child knows a story well, they may start to retell the story just by using the pictures.

    • It's o.k. to use pictures -- Using pictures is 1 way to understand what is happening in the story or to figure out tough words.
      "I often memorize the book -- I can read it with my eyes shut!"
    		  
    • Memorizing is a good thing at this stage!
      "Soon I learn to read the words that are on the page. I learn that the black marks are letters and that there are spaces between words."
    		  
    • When they start to say (…and they will if there has been lots of talk about books): “ Mommy what does this say/spell?”. Then you know they are starting to figure out print.
      "I learn the names and sounds of the letters. I look for little words inside big words and begin to sound out unknown words."
    		  
    • Start the learning the 10 little words that make up 25% of all reading: a, of, was, and, that, in, the, to, I, is, it, he.
    • Show child examples of little words inside to big words: sat
      "I like to try to figure out the words by myself first."
    		  
    • Encourage your child use picture clues, and sounds that they know to help them to figure out tough words.
      "I learn that reading has to makes sense."
    		  
    • Using the picture to find clues.
    • Finding sound chunks in the middle of the word.
    • Making connections with what we already know about the story or topic.
    • Creating mental images about what is happening.
    • Asking questions before, during and after reading.
    • Skipping the word, reading to the end of the sentence, and coming back to it.
    • Asking someone for help.
      "Don't ever leave me struggling through a tough book. I feel good when I know most of the words."
    		  
    • Fluency, expression, understanding,…. all these skills develop quicker and with higher confidence when children have lots of opportunities reading easy books (Allington & Cunningham, 2002).