Monday, August 2, 2010

Work - ECRR Part IV




Print awareness – noticing print everywhere; knowing how to handle a book; knowing how we follow the words on a page.

Why is print awareness important?
Before children learn to read, they must be familiar with how books work:
books have a cover; you begin to read at the top of the page and from left to right (in English and in many languages); books have words and pictures to tell the story; we read the print/text on the page, not the pictures.
When children feel comfortable with books, they can concentrate on reading.

How can parents help children notice print and understand how books work?

Babies/Toddlers:
• Point to signs and other words around you and read what they say. Get books that your baby can handle.
• Let your toddler turn the pages as you read a book. Use your index finger or his to follow the words as you read.
• If a book has a word that repeats, point to it on the page and let your toddler say it.

Two – three year olds:
• Point to signs and other words around you and read what they say. Stop signs, etc. Talk about signs you see as you are driving, walking, at the grocery store.
• Point to words from time to time as you read so your child learns that you are reading the text, not the pictures.
• Let your child turn the pages as you read a book.
• If a book has a word or phrase that repeats, point to it on the page and let the child say it.
• Hold book up-side-down and see if the child knows it has to be turned around.

Four-five year olds:
• Let your child turn the pages as you read a book.
• As you read, point to words from time to time so your child learns you are reading text, not the pictures.
• Hold book up-side-down and see if the child knows it has to be turned around.
• If a book has a word or phrase that repeats, point to it on the page and let the child say it, and you point to the words.
• Have your child make a book. Talk about the different parts: cover, words, pictures, beginning, middle, end.
• Print is everywhere – help your preschooler recognize it: names of restaurants and stores, food, movies, stop signs and street signs and other types of print that you see as you walk and drive.

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