This book is PACKED with awesome information. It's the perfect place to start after reading "Growing a Reader From Birth." The authors focus on readers from preschool age through third grade. Here you'll find information on reading skill development, milestones, book lists, and how to enrich your child's learning at home. They also explain what your child will be learning in a classroom environment, and walk you through literacy buzzwords. I have a TON of notes from when I read this book.
Here are a few that jump out to me:
"We think we read with our eyes, and of course our eyes are part of the process. But what's even more important is the language-processing ability of our brains. Reading is a language skill more than a visual one." (p. 5)
"Emergent literacy isn't just about printed texts. It's also about speech - both talking and listening. Everything your child has been learning over the last few years about words, meaning, and how they go together will come into play as he begins to learn about print. That's because spoken language is the foundation of written language: without language, print is a meaningless code. Children who have trouble putting their thoughts into words or comprehending what others are saying will find it hard to figure out how the little black squiggles sprinkled across the page actually convey meaning. That's why hearing difficulties contribute to difficulties in reading." (p. 32)
"Children's attempts to find logical ways to spell unknown words are a beautiful thing - a window into their growing knowledge of our spelling system. Invented spellings tell us what children have learned so far and what we need to teach them next." (p. 67)
"If you encourage your child to turn to books whenever she is curious, and to seek out in the world the things she's read about in books, you will help her discover a source of wisdom, comfort, and stimulation that will serve her well throughout her life." (p. 75)
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