How to Help Kids to Learn to Read

Help children learn to read by exposing them to books.

Reading is one of the most important skills that children can learn, and reading to children makes them curious to unlock the secret of reading. Helping children learn to read encourages independence and helps children succeed in school early. Reading also is fundamental for other lessons learned in school, and children who learn to read with parents are more likely to enjoy reading in their lives, according to "Why Reading is Important."

Instructions

1. Expose children to printed work. Show children books, newspapers and other printed works. Show children the difference between words and pictures. "Print Awareness Through Read Alouds" calls this print awareness. Children need to know that we read from left to right. They should also be exposed to letters and words before they learn to read. "Print Awareness Through Read Alouds" suggests that teachers show words, written on a board or on strips of paper, and ask the children about the words. Write the word "cat" on the board, and read the word to the class. Ask the children to tell you about a cat.

2. Teach the alphabet sounds. Teaching children the sounds for all the letters of the alphabet will help children learn how to sound out words. Make sure that you teach all of the vowel sounds as well. Use songs and multimedia presentations to hold children's attention and help them remember the letters and sounds.

3. Teach easy words using common vowel sounds. Use the letters and vowel sounds that the children have learned to teach easy words. For example, cat, bat, sat, mat, and rat are words that you can teach using the "a" sound with consonant combinations. Reward children for pronouncing the words correctly.

4. Practice the words. Use index cards to practice the words with the child. Write one word on each card with a marker, and show the child the words. If the child stumbles, help her sound out the letters until she can pronounce all the words easily.

5. Create short sentences using the words that they have learned. Use simple words in addition to the words that they have previously learned to teach the sentences.

References

• U.S. Department of Education: The Essential Five Components of Reading
• Reading Rockets: Print Awareness During Read Alouds
• Helping Your Child Learn to Read: Why Reading is Important

Resources

• Starfall