Family Literacy Month :: A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas from Research for Parent

A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas from Research for Parents

National Institute for Literacy: 2006

The road to becoming a reader begins the day a child is born and continues through the end of third grade. At that point, a child must read with ease and understanding to take advantage of the learning opportunities in fourth grade and beyond—in school and in life.

Learning to read and write starts at home, long before children go to school. Very early, children begin to learn about the sounds of spoken language when they hear their family members talking, laughing, and singing, and when they respond to all of the sounds that fill their world. They begin to understand written language when they hear adults read stories to them and see adults reading newspapers, magazines, and books for themselves.

Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers, this booklet is for you.

Your role in setting your child on the road to becoming a successful reader and writer does not end when she* begins kindergarten.

This booklet contains:

• A short summary of what scientific research says about how children learn to read and write

• Things you can do with your child at three different grade levels—kindergarten, first grade, and second and third grades—to help him become a reader, as well as what to look for in quality reading instruction at each grade level

• A list of helpful terms. Throughout the booklet, these terms appear in bold type

• Ideas for books to read and organizations to contact if you would like more help or information

Try a few activities from this booklet with your child. You don’t need special training or expensive materials. Just include the activities in the things you already do together every day. Make these activities part of the warm, loving relationship you are continuing to build with your child.  READ MORE >>