Learning to Read is About More Than Just Books
This post is by regular contributor Kate Fairlie of Picklebums.
At my big boy’s preschool they have a poster on the door that says…
“Learning to read is about more than just books!”
Underneath the words are lots of photos of kids doing different activities.
I love that poster.
It makes me smile every time I see it because it reminds me that my ‘just turned five’ boy who is so desperate to be able to read like his big sisters, is learning the skills he needs to do just that, every day, in so many different ways.
Learning to read really is about so much more than just books…
It is about playing with play dough and blocks, and practicing the fine motor skills necessary to turn the pages and handle a book.
It is about cooking, and learning about sequencing, and following instructions.
It’s about playing board games, and developing memory skills and learning concepts such as ‘beginning, middle and end’.
It is about playing shops, or restaurants, or Dads and Mums, and learning that reading is useful for lots of things, like reading a menu or writing a shopping list.
It is about drawing and painting and creating and learning about making marks and representing ideas.
It is about doing puzzles and playing snap, and learning to match shapes and pictures, then letters and finally words.
It is about singing and poetry, and learning about rhyme, language and vocabulary.
It is about going to the shops, and getting out and about, and recognising print and words in all their different forms in our environment.
And yes, learning to read is also about books.
There is nothing better than sitting down to share the magic of a story with your child and in doing so they put all those pre-reading skills they have learned during play and everyday life into practice.
They know which way to round to hold a book and how to start at the beginning.
They know how to turn the pages carefully.
They know that the words under the images have meaning, even if they can’t read them.
They know that the pictures help tell the story also.
They know to listen and how to follow a story carefully.
They know to anticipate and guess what word might come next in a rhyming story.
They know the magic of reading… and when they are ready to begin reading on their own they will jump in and enjoy the wonderful ride.
I love this blog! What great ideas to promote all the essential pre-reading skills a child needs before they can ‘learn to read’ at school.
Thank you. This is what I have been sharing with mum’s at kinder who have been worried, as their children are interviewed at the local primary school – and asked to write some words!!! and read some more!!!! This would be why my child will not be going to that school, and instead is looking forward to going to a school that realises that play is learning!
Would love to have a poster like you described in classrooms everywhere. It would be a great tool for teachers to share. come visit me at toddlersthroughpreschool.com
Cathie
Lovely, encouraging and inspiring!
Thanks!
Fabulous post Kate! As a teacher this is close to my heart! I love that if my thumb or fingers cover the words in a book whilst we’re reading Miss Daisy (2yo) moves them to uncover the words! Already there is meaning to those words! Love it!
This is such an important post Kate. Books are very versatile and sometimes we forget that. Books, also help you find out information about a topic you’re interested in. Miss Possum and I forget to use non fiction books all the time. I try really hard to get a non fiction book at the library once a week now. Something about science or wildlife of course!
I really enjoyed this post….i often used to try and convey many of these points to parents when i worked in childcare….sometimes i think they thought i was odd!
Very inspiring and a reminder to me to focus on a few of the more practical points of reading and books with my 2 yr olds!
Hi Kate
What great ideas to promote the prerequisite skills for reading. As a Speech Pathologist and mum of 3, this is a particular passion of mine. Reading aloud is the stepping stones to literacy development. I wrote a blog on this same topic the other week. Pop on over and have a look at some other ideas http://www.speechtherapyalbury.com.au/blog/book-recommendations.aspx