Early Steps in Reading

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4. Early Steps in Reading

The ability to read is the foundation for all future progress in our school system.  However, learning to read is a gradual process and a lot of preparatory work must be done before a child is introduced to her/his first reader. 

We deliberately do not rush or push children into reading. We get them ready for it over an extended period.  Reading is something to be enjoyed.  It should never start as a chore for the small child.  Let you child see you reading and fill your child’s life with a print rich environment. 

You can help your child in a number of ways…

• Read to your child as often as you can and make it a fun activity
• Have attractive colourful books in your home
• Let your child see you reading eg. newspaper, books, magazines etc.
• Reading aloud to your child will cultivate an interest in, and love of reading
• Read a variety of stories, including fables and fairy tales* as often as you can. Your child will get to associate these wonderful tales with books and reading                                             
• Teach your child that books are precious things that must be handled carefully and put away safely- Show your child how to turn pages carefully
• Look and talk about what’s happening in the pictures 
• Ask your child to tell you their favourite character or favourite part of the story and why?
• Teach and recite nursery rhymes*  with your child– they are very important in the process of reading
• Above all, don’t push your child with early reading. You may turn him/her against it for evermore
• Remember that the class teacher is the best judge of what rate of progress is best suited to each child

Suggested Nursery Rhymes*

• Little Bo Peep
• Humpty Dumpty
• Doctor Foster
• Hey Diddle Diddle
• Jack and Jill
• Rub a Dub Dub
• Incy Wincy Spider
• Little Miss Muffet
• Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
• One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
• Three Blind Mice
• Hickory, Dickory, Dock 

Suggested Fables and Fairytales*

• Cinderella
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• The Princess and the Pea
• The Three Little Pigs
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Little Riding Hood
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• The Little Red Hen
• The Ugly Duckling
• Puss in Boots
• The Gingerbread Man
• Sleeping Beauty
• Rapunzel
• Thumbelina