The Four Secrets to Reading Readiness

Our Christmas MOPS meeting on Friday, Dec. 9th, was a festive affair. The tables were decked out with vibrant poinsettias. Shiny tinsel, tiny snowflakes and clear bulbs surrounded the poinsettias, waiting for us to make beautiful ornaments to take home.

Our speaker that morning, Sherri Trudgian, is the author of Psalms for Kidz series and a book reviewer for best-childrens-books.com.  She let us in on four secrets to getting our children ready to read and succeed.

"Reading readiness may not be life-changing, but can be life-shaping," Sherri began. How well a child is prepared for reading will determine how well she or he will do in school, and in life.
She shared with us the philosophy of Maria Montessori, the founder of Montessori schools. Montessori wrote about the absorbent mind, the unique ability of children from 0 to 6 to absorb their language and customs. Sherri calls it the "Giant Sponge Stage", saying that kids use all their senses and their motor skills to learn. They learn by doing, and learn through play.

Sherri said we should be intentional in applying four secrets of reading readiness. These secrets share a basic premise: that the key to achieving reading readiness depends on word knowledge. How do you help your child grow his or her vocabulary? With these four secrets, your child will be prepared for reading, maybe even before starting school.

SECRET #1 - TALK with your child
Talk to your child to grow their vocabulary. Studies have found that kids of chatty moms have so much more words in their vocabulary comprehension than children with less talkative moms. "Talk while you do life together," Sherri suggested. She said moms should talk to their kids when changing diapers, making cookies, shopping for groceries, etc. Explaining your daily activities to your child will help him or her associate words with actions and objects.

SECRET #2 - WALK with your child
Expose children to many different experiences. This will help them build background knowledge as they learn to read and learn about different subjects. Take them to parks, museums, and the library.

SECRET #3 - READ to your child
It's never to soon to begin reading to your child - some moms do it while pregnant! Reading teaches your child phonological awareness. Reading aloud creates sound patterns and rhymes that help your child learn. Sherri suggested that if you can, have Daddy, Grandpa, or a close male friend or relative read to your child, especially to little boys so they don't think that reading is only for women.

SECRET #4 - SING the alphabet
This helps your child learn to name all 26 letters. They will figure out which name goes with which letter shape, and learn what sound is connected to each letter. Read alphabet books from the library, put labels on everything in your home, read signs and billboards and grocery lists. Put magnet letters on the fridge to expose your child to the alphabet. Learn one letter a week through tracing, coloring, making its sound, etc.

Sherri finished her talk by giving us recommendations for books and music such as these:
100 Bible Verses on CD by Wonder Kids Sing - teaches memorization through sung bible verses
Books like "My "t" book" and other letter series by Jane Belk Moncure

"Everything to Spend the Night" by Ann Whitford Paul

Mother Goose rhymes books or Dr. Seuss' books

Any book that has bold, clear colors, exciting sounds, and that is interactive

For more info about Sherri, please see Best-childrens-books.com/sherri-trudgian.html.

We ended our meeting on a good note - well, several good notes - as we sung Christmas carols while Jayme played piano. It was a lovely meeting, a perfect way to relax in this hectic Christmas season.

We hope you have a merry Christmas. Next MOPS is January 6th, so we'll see you in 2012!