| We've all heard the importance of teaching our | | | | book themselves. |
| children to read while they are young. All of the | | | | Set up a corner of a room (does not have to be |
| shows on television for young children promote | | | | the child's room, could be the living room) with a |
| reading (Sesame Street, Between the Lions, | | | | bookshelf for your child's books and magazines. |
| Reading Is Fundamental). How many of you | | | | Make a daily event of reading books to one |
| remember Captain Kangaroo? Even the Captain | | | | another. As you read, ask probing questions. What |
| or Mr. Greenjeans, read stories to the children. For | | | | do you think will happen next? What is the name |
| years we have been exposing children to reading | | | | of the main character? Etc. |
| through various television programs specifically for | | | | Many stores have writing pads for children. Some |
| children. Yet, too many parents are not exposing | | | | of these writing pads will illustrate how to write |
| their children to reading in the home. | | | | the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to |
| The National Early Literacy Panel has outline | | | | 9. Spend time with your child in writing letters and |
| several skills which predicate reading achievement. | | | | numbers. The more practice they have, the more |
| They are as follows: | | | | skills they will develop. I have found books that |
| Alphabetical Knowledge - knowledge of names | | | | are called "Everything You Need to Know for 1st |
| and sounds associated with printed letters. | | | | Grade". These are written for grades kindergarten |
| Phonological Awareness - detecting, manipulating | | | | through I believe fifth grade. Check them out. Go |
| or analyzing parts of words. | | | | to a bookstore and you will find even more grade |
| Rapid/Automatic Naming of Letters/Digits - | | | | level books to help your child get ahead in schools. |
| naming a sequence of random letters or numbers. | | | | I know there are many activity books written for |
| Rapid/Automatic Naming of Objects/Colors - | | | | preschool level. |
| naming a sequence of random sets of pictures or | | | | The important thing in setting up a reading |
| objects. | | | | environment in your home is to have access to |
| Writing or Writing Name - writing letters in isolation | | | | the materials everyday. The more you exposure |
| or one's own name. | | | | your child to reading and writing, the more they |
| Phonological Memory - remembering spoken | | | | will learn. Make it fun. Do hands on activities in |
| information for a short period of time. | | | | which your child experiences the fun part of |
| If your child has these abilities then they show a | | | | learning. Post your child's writings around the |
| strong development of literacy. | | | | house (not just on the refrigerator). I even |
| How does one help your child to develop these | | | | started a scrape book for my students when I |
| abilities? First, your home should reflect the use of | | | | taught Elementary. They loved that. |
| reading and writing materials. Subscribe to some | | | | Anything you can do as a parent to prepare your |
| children's magazines. As your child grows, find | | | | child for his/her academic life, will help your child to |
| those magazines that most interest them. | | | | do better in school. Remember that you are your |
| Purchase small books that they can sit and learn | | | | child's first teacher. Be an active parent and |
| to read. Young children will mimic what they have | | | | participate in every aspect of your child's |
| heard when rereading a book. Eventually, they will | | | | academic life. |
| recognize the words and be able to read the | | | | |