More for Parents & Teachers
Read with Me eBooks: Areas of Literacy Skills and Book Titles
We have spent a lot of time learning about how children become good readers. One thing we know for sure is that children who develop good reading skills early on tend to become better readers in and outside of school.
We also know that there are certain skills that are really important for children to practice, so we have based the eBooks on teaching those skills. Click on the links below to learn more about each type of reading instruction and the eBooks that focus on that instruction. You will also find links to fun web sites that provide additional information as well as many fun on-line and off-line activities for children.
Phonological Awareness:
Phonological awareness means being able to hear the sounds that make up a word. Children who have developed phonological awareness are able to recognize words that are similar, including words that rhyme, like "cat" and "hat", and words that start with the same sound, like "cat" and "car". They are also able to recognize when words are different, like "top" and "cow". Children who have developed phonological awareness usually have an easier time learning to read.
Books:
Resources:
Background Knowledge
Offline Activities with teachers and parents
- Phonemic Activities for the Preschool or Elementary Classroom (ReadingRockets.org)
- Resources for Activities (Preschool Activity Quicksource)
- Bee Ready to Read
Online Games & Videos for Children
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about phonological awareness, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: phonological awareness; phonological awareness songs; phonological awareness activities
Note: You might see some things that say "Phonemic Awareness." These are good to click on, because phonemic awareness is a type of phonological awareness.
Alphabetic Principle:
The alphabetic principle is the idea that words are made up of letters that represent sounds. When children develop an understanding of the alphabetic principle, they recognize that the letters they see in printed words are related to the sounds they hear when they say the word out loud. This helps children learn that the relationships between letters and sounds can be used to help them read new words.
Book:
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Alphabetic Principle in Beginning Reading (University of Oregon)
- The Alphabetic Principle (ReadingRockets.org)
- The Alphabet Principle (TeacherTube Video)
Offline Activities
- Activities for Parents (RIF)
- Activities to Encourage Your Preschooler (ReadingRockets.org)
Scroll down to the activity named Activity: Letters, Letters, Everywhere - Alphabet Shopping (PBS Kids)
Online Games
- ABCs Let's Get Ready to Read (Starfall.com)
- You're Adorable (Alphabet Song) (RIF)
- ABC's Zoo Game (Fisher-Price)
- Alligators All Around (Carol King video)
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about the alphabetic principle, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: alphabetic principle; alphabetic principle activities; alphabetic principle games
Print Awareness:
Print awareness means understanding the purpose of printed text (like that found in books, magazines, and newspapers) and the rules that tell us how text is used. Children who have developed print awareness know the difference between letters, words, and sentences, and know that each word they see has a different meaning. They can also tell the difference between basic features of a book like the title, the front, and the back.
Book:
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Watch & Learn: Print Awareness: Becoming Aware of Print (ReadingRockets.org)
This video clip shows how 32-month-old Mira's parents help her become aware of print.
Offline Activities with teachers and parents
- Print Awareness During Read Alouds (ReadingRockets.org)
Online Games & Videos for Children
- Book and Print Awareness (Teachers' Domain)
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about print awareness, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: print awareness; print awareness activities; print awareness instruction activities
Fluency:
Fluency is the ability to read at a rate that is automatic without making many mistakes. Fluency develops over time and children need a lot of practice. When children become fluent readers, they are able to read most words without much effort. This means that they are able to focus on what something means, rather than what it says. Also, fluent readers can read with expression. This means they can get a hang of the pace of a story, or the way it sounds when it is read aloud.
Books:
Apple Walk Around The Farm
My Colorful Snowman
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Fluency: Instructional Guidelines and Student Activities (ReadingRockets.org)
- Fluency in Beginning Reading (University of Oregon)
- Fluency Instruction (Modeling Fluent Reading and Summing Up)
Offline Activities
- Family Stories (AOL Kids)
- Animal Stories (AOL Kids)
Online Activities
- I'm Reading (Starfall.com)
- Bedtime Stories (AOL Kids)
read aloud
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about fluency, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: reading fluency; reading fluency activities; free reading fluency stories
Vocabulary:
A child's vocabulary is made up of all the words a child knows or understands. Vocabulary is especially important for reading comprehension. In order to understand text, we need to do more than just be able to read the words on the page; we need to know what the words mean. Children with a strong vocabulary usually have an easier time understanding what they read.
Book:
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Vocabulary in Beginning Reading
- Vocabulary Instruction (Questions about Vocabulary and Summing Up)
Questions about Vocabulary Instruction and Summing Up
Offline Activities
Online Activities
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about vocabulary, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: vocabulary games for preschool; vocabulary games for kids; vocabulary development activities
Comprehension:
Comprehension is a child's ability to understand what he or she reads. Adults can help children understand the books they read by talking with them about the books. This can include asking children to make predictions before they read, to look closely at the pictures, to make connections between the story and their own life, and to retell parts of the story after reading.
Books:
Gus's Rainforest Adventure
Where Are The Chocolate Chips?
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Comprehension in Beginning Reading
- Comprehension (Reading Rockets)
Offline Activites
- Comprehension for Beginners (Funderstanding)
These are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about comprehension, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: reading comprehension; reading comprehension for beginners; beginning reading comprehension activities
Reading Motivation:
Reading motivation is a child's interest in reading. Children who believe that they can learn something new or challenging often show more motivation to take on tasks such as reading. Adults can help children develop this kind of mindset by giving encouragement. For instance, parents can praise the process and effort to help a child with a challenge.
Book:
Resources:
Background Knowledge
- Mindset for Achievement
- How Not to Talk with your Kids. The Inverse Power of Praise.
- Reading Motivation Articles
Online activities
Reading is Fundamental – Motivating Kids to ReadThese are just some examples of sites that we've found helpful, but there are lots more online! Find more information about reading motivation, as well as additional stories and activities, by typing the following suggestions into the Search bar of your web browser: reading motivation; reading motivation for kids