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Getting Your Child Ready to Read
From Three to Four Years Old
Oral Language - Your child should be able to understand and follow oral directions, understand the literal meaning of stories and be able to demonstrate that understanding through questions and conversations around shared reading activities. Children should be able to engage in conversation to communicate their needs and wants, likes and dislikes.
Vocabulary - Your child's vocabulary will continue to grow and incorporate new concepts as his or her world expands. The child may be able to recognize high-frequency words such as "and" and "the," when reading with you. Your child should likely be trying out new vocabulary words in his or her own speech.
Print Awareness includes understanding the basic rules of written language. It involves understanding that print has different uses; that written language, or printed words in English, flow from left to right and top to bottom on a page; and that words on a page convey meaning for someone who knows how to read. Understanding the rules makes learning to read easier for the child. Over time, your child will begin to understand that individual words have specific meanings and may move his or her finger along the words as you read them. The child should be able to recognize environmental print, such as McDonald's or Wal-Mart signs, in his or her own environment. The child should know that print is what is read in books.
Phonological Awareness is the child's sensitivity to, manipulation of, and use of sounds in words. Your child may be able to attend to the beginning sounds in words, rhyming sounds in words, and separate and repeating sounds in language. The child can perceive the difference in similar sounding words. To help develop this sound discrimination skill, you may want to play silly word games. When grocery shopping, for example, point out that pea, peach and pineapple all start with the same sound.
Letter Knowledge is the understanding that letters are different from each other, each letter has a name, and each letter has specific sounds. These ideas help your child transfer his or her knowledge of spoken language to reading and writing. At this age, your child should understand that each letter is different from other letters and may recognize the letters of the alphabet, particularly those in the child's own name, but most children do not understand the connection between letters and words at this age.
Knowledge of Narrative - Your child may be able to link the sequence of events in a short story. For example, the child should be able to answer the question, "What happens next?" The child may be able to talk about characters in stories and connect aspects of the story to his or her own life.
Birth to 12 Months Old
From One to Three Years Old
» From Three to Four Years Old
From Four to Five Years Old
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Language and Literacy Development
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