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Read

Read!

Reading introduces new words to a child’s vocabulary that are not used in every day conversations and encourages imaginative thinking. Sharing books and introducing new themes help children learn:

  • Informational books (nonfiction) have more complex vocabulary than other books, which helps children become more word conscious and interested in learning even more words.
  • Predictable books (repetitive phrases) help children to learn how to repeat patterns.
  • Shared reading develops a love of reading and an appreciation of books. Children who enjoy being read to are more likely to want to learn to read themselves.

Activities and Printables

  • As you read aloud a new word, take a moment to explain what that might mean and give an example on how it might be used.
  • Encourage children to repeat versus as you read aloud, using your voice and hand motions to que them in.
  • Use informational (nonfiction) and poetry books in storytimes.
  • Introduce “beginning,” “middle,” and “end” so children have an understanding hon how stories are organized.

Activities

Matching Game - coming Spring 2020

Scavenger Hunt - Winter 2020

Animals Sounds Game

Circle Time Activites

Scavenger Hunt

RTRM Presents Kevin Henkes!

 

Printables

Ready to Read Michigan Booklist to share with families and caregivers

Scavenger Hunt

Animals Sounds Game

Matching Game

Circle Time Activities

Scavenger Hunt

Animals Sounds Game

Additional Links

Book Recommendations

Play while reading text to help children make sense of the book. Children can use props such as puppets to talk about the characters in a storybook and retell the story or use other objects to think more deeply about informational text. If there are vocabulary words that are unfamiliar, acting them out through dramatic play helps them by using words they already know and put the new words into action.

Marta! Big & Small

Marta! Big & Small

Arena, Jen

This playful book explores the concept of opposites while introducing some basic Spanish words and English counterparts on each page. 

Eric Carle's ABC

Eric Carle's ABC

Carle, Eric

Lift the flaps to reveal the animal that coincides with each letter, explaining that letters build words, tracing the letters with a fingertip as you go.

Chicka Chicka Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Martin, Bill Jr. 

This rhyme-of-a-time alphabet book engages kids to get to know their letters, introducing both lower-case and upper-case letters. 

First The Egg

First the Egg

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro 

A story to help young children understand the concept of how something small, like a letter, can grow to be a word.  This book highlights simple words to encourage children to sound them out and, as they grow older, learn to read.

A to Z

A to Z

Boynton, Sandra

An alphabet book featuring some of Boynton's famous characters and lots of talking and engagement to be had with each letter.