SCHOOL DAYS OR SCHOOL DAZE?

Which will it be?  Parents and teachers hope for the former: which for young children, hopefully involves focus as well as fun.

School Days by Jessie Wilcox Smith

But some children find themselves starting school in a daze...

Back to School Again by Jessie Wilcox Smith

For my readers who may have preschool aged children (or grandchildren) who are learning at home or just starting school this year:  I'll be doing a SEPTEMBER GIVE-AWAY that is sure to help your kids have fun as they focus on learning to read.  How do you know if your child is ready to read?  The website for my GIVE-AWAY books (revealed soon!) says this:

Every child is different, so there is no specific age when your child will be ready for reading. Instead, look for signs and signals that may indicate reading readiness. Because young children learn so much at a very rapid rate, you may not even be fully aware of how much they already know. Some children grasp reading concepts and are able to sound out simple words as early as age 3; others may not start until age 5 or 6. Learning to read is very much a process; as your child’s first and most important teacher, he or she will need your patience, as well as your encouragement, every step of the way.

What should I look for?

As an involved parent, you have most likely been looking at alphabet books together or have magnetic letters on the fridge. Answers to the questions below can help determine where your child is in terms of reading readiness:

-Does your child know the alphabet?

-Can she or he recognize most of the letters (including both uppercase and lowercase letters?)

-Can your child recognize letters on everyday objects such as S T O P on a stop sign?

-Does your child know that letters are associated with sounds and can he or she demonstrate a fair number of those sounds?

-Can your child spell his or her own name?