Tips for Beginning Readers

Here you will discover ideas and tips for making reading engaging and fun for beginning readers. Beginning readers range from pre-Kindergarten through about 2nd grade. At this age, the focus is on learning the mechanics of reading, including letter names, letter sounds, reading words with short vowels and some common long vowels, and sight words.

Introducing kids to the joy of reading and sharing picture books, poetry, and informational texts on topics that interest them will enrich your child's vocabulary, and help instill a love of reading. I always encourage families to start a habit of reading each day by setting aside a specific time of the day - before bedtime is a great time - to read a story with your child. Not only does this help expose children to rich language, an understanding of the literary world, and help them gain skills and strategies they will use in a lifetime of reading, but also provides a special time with just you, your child, and a good book - time that you and your child will cherish. Reading before bed helps quiet the mind and encourages a more restful sleep and easier bedtime routine.

Each Reading Connection Beginning Edition Newsletter contains many ideas to help you keep learning to read interesting for your child. Don't forget to look through the past newsletters for more ideas. Happy reading!