Becoming a Reader

Above all we strive to have each girl in Pre-k find the confidence to view themselves as a learner. As a learner, one thing many four and five year olds strive for is being able to read. “Reading readiness” is an intricate set of skills that have roots in your daughter’s earliest experiences. Literacy is formed on the cornerstones of four major components: reading, writing, listening and speaking. We incorporate each of these components into all portions of the curriculum in Pre-k. Along with the cornerstones and more specific details they entail (phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabetic knowledge, etc.) there are three other critical elements to reading success that must be present. These are motivation, self-regulation, and risk taking. Motivation for reading is born through positive experiences, especially being read to often. Children also connect to reading by observing adults use print and language in their world. Self-regulation involves your daughter’s ability to control her behavior. Listening to a story or directions and sitting still when necessary are skills in the classroom and in life. You'll find that self-regulation is more difficult for some children than for others, and is learned only with patience and persistence. Finally, risk taking is paramount in learning to read. Research has shown a powerful correlation between a child’s ability to read and risk taking. It takes a great amount of bravery for your daughter to take whatever skills she has in her repertoire and attempt to read aloud. Mistakes are evident and children must be willing to make them. The adults in their life must be willing to let them experience these mistakes as they continue to learn the patterns and rules of written language. Over the next 7 weeks we will continue to support your daughter in her journey to becoming a reader.