The Key to Growing Readers
Research tells us that to become fully and comfortably literate requires that we understand and use oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Among these foundations of reading comprehension is the key that starts children down the growth path toward becoming fully literate.
In the beginning
Children don’t wait for the first day of school to start growing as readers. They begin growing as readers from the first time they are read to—from the earliest realization that books and the print in them have valuable meaning for them, personally. After that, children continue to grow by “playing with reading and writing,” long before they can successfully read or write anything independently.
Important, yet…
The don’t need to recognize and understand all of the vocabulary in a favorite book to want to enjoy it again and again.
They don’t need to fully understand the vast number of printed words that are rarely spoken at home but provide the awesome power that can be experienced through the impacts of reading and creating print.
Comprehension is key
All of these foundations of reading are important, yet the key is for children to experience the inner glow that comes from comprehending the depth and vastness of what is available to them in books.
Learn more about how to grow readers.