Reading+Readiness

(D.P.Matthews, //What is Reading Readiness? @// [] )
 * Reading readiness** **has been described in various ways by reading theorists.** **Here are some of their descriptions:**
 * The teachable moment for reading: a point in time when the pupil is ready to learn how to read. ( [|Dechant 1991] )
 * “A transition extending over several months during which time the child (student) gradually changes from a non-reader to a beginning reader. In this case the readiness program couples the (student's) past learning with new learning and brings the (student), gradually, through the transition." ( [|Clay 1991)]


 * For Ms. Faith,** **reading readiness** **is that period of time when a child changes from being a non-reader to a reader.**

**Tips for Language Development** ** • Speak often to build vocabulary and a solid base for future communication ** ** • Talk in "parentese" (high-pitched, more animated) as babies tune into this ** ** • Laugh, sing, and play peek-a-boo ** ** • Exercise (increased physical activity is closely linked to language and cognitive development) ** ** • Have your child tell you a story ** ** • Combine cuddling, talking, playing, and exercising all at once ** ** • Ask open-ended questions (encourages dialogue and helps children feel safe) **

Tips to Support Brain Development
• Encourage hands on experiences • Repeat, repeat (children learn through repetition) • Provide stimulation (talk, play, read every day) • Do activities that engage (ones that include touching, talking, listening, tasting, smelling, singing, looking, and playing) • Use variety (new experiences that challenge and enhance brain growth) • Let your child finish sentences for you • Ask questions about stories • Find new words to help describe things

Non-reading Skills Needed to Learn How to Read
• Motor control and coordination (especially fine motor skills) • Auditory discrimination • Detecting differences in sounds of words • Detecting words that begin with the same consonants • Hearing first sounds in words • Following directions • Visual discrimination • Recognizing shapes and sizes • Having a healthy attention span • Left to right progression • Seeing relationships and seeing likeness and differences • Exposure to reading and the written word

Six Pre-reading Skills
1. **Vocabulary**: knowing the names of things 2. **Print Motivation**: being interested in and enjoying books 3. **Letter Knowledge**: knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters are everywhere 4. **Print Awareness**: noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page 5. **Phonological Awareness**: being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words 6. **Narrative Skills**: being able to describe things and events and tell stories (borrowed from "Tips & Resources" on the APL Ready to Read Website)

Tips for Helping New Readers (most children in kindergarten and first grade)
• Play with rhymes (rhymes, poems, songs) • Create stories (have the new reader make up stories for pictures, picture books) • Practice the alphabet • Listen to them read • Read together every day