What's the Best Way to Teach Children To Read?
When I was a young child, I learned to read by going to the public library. Every week, my mother would take me to the library and let me choose books to borrow. My mother was my role model. She loved to read, so did I.
Audiobooks
When my children were young, I turned to audiobooks on tape, mostly Caedemon Audiobooks. Caedmon was the first company to sell spoken-word recordings to the public. I came across Caedemon’s children’s soundbook tapes from the public library, where I would take my infant and pre-schooler. The sound books could be played anywhere.
The Caedemon Audiobooks were read by famous authors, actors and actresses. HarperCollins owns Caedmon now. The books for children on audiotapes have been replaced by podcasts and streaming audio or video story readings, such as Storyline Online, video readings by celebrated actors, streamed at no cost to children, parents, and educators worldwide.
Montessori Reading Method
When my children were starting to read, they attended Montessori schools.
In a Montessori approach to reading, children learn to write before they learn to read, focusing on phonics and building words with materials like the movable alphabet, which helps them connect letters and sounds, ultimately fostering a love for reading through engaging, hands-on activities. Source: AI
The Library
When my oldest grandchild was a pre-schooler, I would take him to the library’s live storytime. I also would write with him, on a whiteboard or chart paper, words that related to our walks in nature.
I borrow from the library books that I think would interest the child. I’m very picky when choosing books to read with pre-schoolers, picky about illustrations, words, and stories (i.e., values, non-violence, clarity of communication, age-appropriate, connected with the child’s interests).
From Screen To Page & Vice Versa
These days, many young children and adults, including me, enjoy screen time. To balance screen-time, I connect children’s story books for children with their interests through a variety of media, including audiobooks, music, film, and computer games. The first computer game I played with my grandchildren was TinyBop’s educational science app for 4+.
Ways To Teach Children To Read
Today, the way most children learn to read is by phonetics, sounding out words and letters.
While there are many instructional strategies for teaching reading, here are 10 of the most trusted amongst educators and reading specialists.
1. Assess Student Ability First
2. Choral Reading/Partner Reading
3. Use Visual Aids
4. Assign Reading Buddies Across Ages & Grades
5. Implement Audiobooks
6. Teach Academic English (or other language)
7. Have Students Summarize What They Read
8. Expose Students to Different Discourse Patterns
9. Let Students Choose the Books They Read
10. Have Students Read the Same Content Multiple Times
Source: “10 Instructional Strategies To Teach Reading,” Reviewed by Adam Nance.
There is NO BEST WAY TO TEACH CHILDREN TO READ.
We can approach reading in many different ways and in a combination of ways. It depends on the child’s interests, individual needs, abilities, developmental stage, social environment (i.e., teachers, parents, friends, grandparents, librarians, others with whom the child interacts), and physical environment. Taking a car, bus, plane or train trip, practice reading traffic signs and billboards. Going for a walk? Read neighborhood signs. Food shopping? Read label. Food prepping? Read recipes.
Why Spark Children’s Reading
Boost language skills
Encourage empathy and well-being
Expand world view
Stimulate curiousity
Expose to different perceptions
Build upon interests and talents
How To Spark Children’s Reading
Be their role model
Read aloud every day
Surround them with books
Talk and listen
Explore diverse stories
Share a range of texts
Use repetition
Boost engagement
Work with families
Source: Abi Ellis, Senior Project Manager for early years at National Literacy Trust
Something To Think About
How did you/your children/grandchildren learn to read (by phonetics, by sight, by connecting the alphabet and sounds with the real world or with illustrations or a combination of ways?)
How has reading enhanced your life?
How can you enhance the lives of children through reading?