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First Friday Q&A: My 4 Year-Old Wants to Read NOW – What Do I Do?

April 6, 2012 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Uncategorized 3 Comments

What do you do when your 4 year-old wants to know how to read TODAY?  Here are some developmentally appropriate ways to build your preschooler’s literacy foundation, while also giving them ways they can read today.  (This video can also be viewed on YouTube here.)

 

Emergent Literacy

Why Don’t You Teach Reading?  A Look at Emergent Literacy {NJC}

A Culture of Literacy {NJC}

Reading Aloud is More than Just Reading {NJC}

Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook {Fountas & Pinnell}  (This is more of a professional resource for Pre-K teachers, but I think it outlines DAP for reading instruction and offers a lot of great activities that could be implemented at home as well.)

Alphabet Knowledge

Alphabet for Starters: Easy Touch and Feel Alphabet {No Time for Flashcards}

This is a G….and So Is This!  Buidling Alphabet Awareness in Young Readers {NJC}

Sensory Alphabet Ebook {Melitsa @ Raising Playful Tots}

50 Fantastic Alphabet Books {No Time for Flashcards}

Phonological Awareness

Stretching Words: Playful Ways to Practice {NJC}

Nursery Rhyme Printables {PreKinders}

Writing

Name Matching {Fun in ECSE}

Nurturing Young Authors {NJC}

Oral Language

Magic Words: Toddler Communication {Carrots are Orange}  (You can’t start too young here!)

Cheap DIY Magnetic Sets for Retelling {PreK Pages}

Concepts of Print

Simply Made: Reading Rings (Environtmentl Print) {Totally Tots}

Taking Dictations: Creating Stories with Young Kids {Simple Kids}

Check out my Language and Literacy Pinterest Board here!

Create your own books together, read emergent literacy books and books with rhyming and repetitive text.

For those of you who celebrate Easter, download and print my Emergent Reader – Happy Easter. (The booklet is made from half pages, so cut the pages in half before stapling for two booklets.)  Help your child complete the book by coloring the egg and where it’s hiding, and add the text to complete each sentence.  It’s great for getting familiar with color words as well as a few high frequency words, plus your child gets the benefit of doing some inventive spelling to finish the story.  (Cross out “in the” and add your child’s own words if necessary.  All those directional words — under, next to, behind, etc. — are great practice!)

What do you do encourage your emergent readers?

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Comments

  1. Valerie Schuler says

    April 6, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Amanda,
    I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this post! I am currently taking an early literacy class at my local community college and your tips were right on! I also like to premake some books for my sons to write in whenever the mood strikes them ( I just fold a couple pieces of construction paper together and staple), document any quotes with their “writing” and these stories have become favorites in our house, right along with “The Busy Spider” and “The Grouchy Ladybug”. I also encourage my boys to share their stories with Grandma on Skype so they can show off their skills and be proud of their hard work. Thank you for introducing these important emergent reading skills!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weekend Reads 3.30.13 | Not Just CuteNot Just Cute says:
    March 30, 2013 at 2:18 am

    […] Easter!  Check out this post from last year to pick up a free, printable Easter-themed emergent […]

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  2. 25+ Easter Coloring Pages for Kids - Kids Activities Blog says:
    March 26, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    […] Easter Coloring Book for Emergent Readers – Not Just Cute always has fun ideas and this is no exception.  This is an Easter Egg coloring book for early readers to read and follow the directions. […]

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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