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Welcome
Parents
and Teachers
Raising
Readers presents a detailed body of knowledge
about the development of literacy in children
from birth to seven years.
The
(Emergent Literacy) checklists contain language
and literacy milestones, which are hyperlinked
to detailed explanations. They help you work with
babies, toddlers, and preschool children to observe
and record their behaviours, anticipate future
needs, and structure play activities to assist
their literacy development.
As
well as guides, tests, assessments, and articles
for the development of reading, writing, and spelling
skills, strategies, and knowledge, there are teaching
resources and materials to help dyslexic children,
those with special needs and learning disabilities.
Raising
Readers will help your child get a head start
to reading.
From
Kindy to School
The
year before school is a good time to review your
child's learning and readiness for school. If
you find that they need to develop some skills
or knowledge, or gain more experience in any area
then you still have time to do it. But what do
they need to know?
Click
here to see the 4
to 5 years Milestones Checklist. This
shows the items that are important for transition
to school and overlaps into their first year.
You
can click each item to see a more detailed explanation,
and what makes it so important. Remember that
these are the basics. Hopefully your child will
be able to do more than is suggested here.
Complete
it online or print the checklist off. The items
not checked are the things you need to work on.
Visitors
are welcome to use the information found here but
must acknowledge the source.
Please give me some feedback about how useful or
otherwise you find this site.
Philip Builder B.Ed, Adv.DipT.
Click
here to send me Feedback
Case
Study: Ali's
progress
This
study documents Ali's progress from birth to five
years old as she learns the skills and knowledge
to begin reading and writing. At five years old
she is a confident, literate young lady with a
huge vocabulary, ready to start school and begin
her formal literacy instruction.
Its
in the works. Coming soon!!
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A Head Start to Learning
Some
children are able to read and write before
they go to school while others are far
behind on day one and spend their whole
school life trying to catch up.
It's
parent 'know-how' that makes the difference,
rather than children's abilities. I believe
that any child can learn to read and write
early and gain a headstart on the field.
The Literacy Milestones show the skills
that preschoolers need to learn in order
to gain a head start at school.
You
don't have to teach anything! Learning
occurs naturally as you spend time together
helping them make sense of their new world.
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Reading
Begins at Home
I
have been teaching reading for 35 years and
know that reading doesn't begin at school!!
If a child comes to school without a background
of reading and writing at home then s/he will
be at risk of developing a reading 'problem'.
Why? Because the other kids will know a lot
about literacy already and understand how it
works and are "ready to read" on day
one.
Reading is a language skill. If you do not speak
well, do not know lots of stories and rhymes,
can't remember your ABC, count, and don't already
know your colours and basic shapes, etc, you
need time to develop those skills.
The other side of reading is writing. You need
to be able to draw and write. If you can't draw
you probably can't form your letters very well.
Can you remember what they all look like? No?
But most children can write their alphabet
and numbers by the time they start school! So
you see, you also need lots of writing experience
before you turn five or you are going to be
like a fish out of water in your first year
of school!
Reading begins by memorising the print in early
readers. Then they begin to build up a sight
vocabulary as well as using letters to form
basic words. Listening and blending skills are
important at this time. Phonics is usually taught
too so that basic spelling and word families
help the young reader to progress.
But
the child who has no experience of memorising
stories gets stuck at that stage and has trouble
building his sight word vocabulary, making new
words, and learning phonics. More
time is then spent with these 'slow progress'
students but the damage is already done and
it is rare for a student to excel after a slow
start.
So
you can see why learning to read begins at home,
and why it is so important.
Ready for School?
Is your child ready for school?
Have you thought about Social Skills, Learning
Style, Personal Care, or Mathematical Skills?
Click
here to see these and other topics in the
School
Readiness Checklist.
Booklet:
Read B4 School
Children
begin learning as soon as they are born. Use natural
methods to introduce your infant to the world
of books and marvel as they show you what they
know as their young brains develop.
Easy
point by point guide for you to help your child
read and write before school. Everything you need
to know!!
Out
soon!! Watch this space
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