Introduction

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Introduction

Essentials-Read this first

Literacy Milestones

Birth to 5 years

4 to 5 years

5 to 6 years

6 to 7 years

7 to 8 years

Checklists and Charts

School Readiness Checklist

Pre-Reading Checklist

Pre Reading Concepts

Pre-sch Writing Examples

School Entry Writing
Checklist

Computing Milestones

Learning Style

ABC Chart 1

ABC Chart 2

ABC Chart 3

ABC Chart 4

Reading Assessment

Reading Strategies

Self Esteem-PC

Self Esteem-Child

Self Esteem Adult

Sight Words

Core Vocabulary

Reading Tests

Miscue Examples

Disab. and LD Planner

Activities

Alphabet Activities

Listening to Reading

Transformations

Sight Vocabulary

Writing Conference

Concentration

Reading Activity

Eyespan

Teach Reading Strategies

Phonics and Word Building

Speed and Fluency

Vocabulary Chart

LEAP

Articles

Natural Learning

Teaching Reading Summary

Trouble Shooting

Book Selection

Print Reversals

Dyslexia

Old and New Teaching

Case Studies

Learning from Parents

Book Selection

Learning Difficulties

Spelling

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Introduction
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 head start on the field.

I have always been concerned that so many children have so little experience of literacy before they come to school. How many times have I heard their parents say, "I thought that they would learn to read and write at school!" What they haven't realised of course is that all children need to gradually build their understandings and experience about books, book language, and reading and writing in the years before they start school so that they can begin to really read and write almost from their first day. In fact some are reading and writing even before they start school. The ones who have little or less experience of literacy stand out in many, many ways, and can take up to two years or more to reach the same state of readiness that the others had on day one.

So by the time the two years gap has been made up and they begin to show signs of real progress as readers and writers the other children have had two years experience and have moved even further ahead. However it gets worse! The slow progress students are well identified by everyone in the class (despite the best efforts by clever and sensitive teachers), and their place in the 'pecking order' of social acceptance is solidly set. Not only is it set by others, it is also set by the children themselves who recognise that they lack the achievement of the others, and this inferiority affects their approach to learning for many years, possibly for life.

Teachers of young children are very aware of these issues and go to great lengths to set up their classrooms so that everyone is seen to achieve and to be successful. Modern 'whole language' curriculum and methods are planned so that children are able to learn successfully and progress at their own rate, but as students age the differences between them are harder to hide.

Teachers alone cannot help children compensate for their early handicaps. Parents need to be actively involved in the process too. When this happens their children's progress is accelerated significantly. I know from my experience working closely with parents that they all want to help, but many are not sure that they can work with their own children successfully, and don't really know what to do. They need reassurance and guidance to build up their confidence and skills.

Use this Raising Readers to:

raise your children as healthy learners and readers
guarantee that they succeed in school
smooth out their learning path
understand their learning needs
plan for each new stage of learning

If there are problems along
the way:

Do your own checklists and give your own diagnostic tests
Identify what children know, and what needs to be learned next
Help them successfully learn and retain information
Improve their attitudes and behaviour
Change from a negative to a positive learning cycle
Improve children's self esteem, and your own!!

Families from all walks of life, from the poorest, impoverished families to the wealthy, well educated and politically astute have worked with me to help their children recover their learning confidence and skills.

These families have many things in common. They all want to help their children achieve their true potential; they thought the school alone could teach their kids to read and write; they have difficulty teaching their own children; and the partners often disagree about the methods to use. The differences are interesting. The poorer families feel powerless to teach but are willing to learn and will do anything to help. The more affluent usually know what to do but their methods are often counter-productive and problems can occur. They tend to have preconceived notions about teaching and learning to which their children react negatively, and this can result in relationship and behaviour problems at home.

Use the Raising Readers milestones to check how your children are progressing. Check off the things that are known and make a note of those that need to be learned. Follow the links to find out more about those milestones you do not understand. Tackle the earliest milestones first and plan to help your children pass the ones that are appropriate right now so that there are no gaps. Use the activities and resources from the main menu to help you work out how to do this. Last of all you might like to read the articles that interest you to gain background information and improve your understanding of teaching and learning.

I hope that your children are successful and happy learners, and that you enjoy using Raising Readers Website or CD-Rom.

Phil Builder
January, 2012