Gentle Reading
Reading happens at different times for every child. Some will practically teach themselves to read, and others will need much repetition until they are able to read fluently.
I have taught all seven of my children to read, and they have definitely proven this to be true. A couple of them were late readers, and took lots of repetition, and others learned with very little formal instruction. Aside from the youngest, who is still gaining fluency, all of my children love to read, and read often for pleasure and for learning.
The phonics activities that are included in The Peaceful Preschool curriculum, are activities that I used to provide multi-sensory phonics input. As you flash the letter cards and carefully articulate the sounds, even encouraging your child to repeat after you, you are reinforcing the idea that letters represent sounds.
Phonics aren't the only thing involved in developing reading fluency, however. Some children are well served by also giving them sight words. With my second child, who had auditory processing difficulties, her reading took off once we started doing sight word flashcards with her. We would read a simple reader together, and when she struggled with a word, I would quickly jot it down along with sounding it out for her.
Later, I would write any of these problem words on flash cards, and then flash them a few times a day, in short, 5-minute sessions. It was a small time investment, but as she began to acquire a larger repertoire of sight words, reading became more fluid and fun. She is an adult now, and continues to devour books; she is one of few people I have met, who have read nearly all of the works of Shakespeare, for fun!
The video below demonstrates a few of the multi sensory reading activities that we have done together to reinforce sight words and phonograms. If you have purchased the full 26 week curriculum, we also have a video in the private FB group, that explains how to do a few more activities for developing early reading skills.
Until your child is reading fluently, keep expanding their vocabulary, and their love for literature by reading aloud to your child, and by memorizing poetry with your child. These special times of reading together not only give your child an advantage academically, they also provide the spark which will lead to hours of imaginative play and projects.
A poem we are working on now.
For more ideas on how books spark play and projects, check out this episode of The Read Aloud Revival.
This article from a neurodevelopmental therapist explains why memorizing sight words is important for beginning readers.
What letter are you on? Share, by tagging #thepeacefulpreschool on Instagram, or in our encouraging private Facebook group, available with your curriculum purchase.
For a complete list of picture books used for The Peaceful Preschool click here.
For hands-on learning with your K-6 grade students, check out The Playful Pioneers and The Precious People.
