Announcement posted by Cuddles Childcare Centre 16 Apr 2014
Facilitator in a childcare centre in Perth offers tips for teaching a child to read as early as possible.
Perth, WA, 16 April 2014 - How early is “too early” to start teaching a child how to read? According to many in the education industry, it is never “too early” to start teaching children how to read, as long as the experience is fun for the child.
Learning to read involves developing three basic skills: syntax, phonics and semantics. Most children begin to grasp semantics first, but all children are different and some may grasp one of the other two skills first.
Syntax
Syntax has to do with form. It is how words fit together to create phrases, sentences and paragraphs, but it starts with simply recognising that a book has pages. The child figures out that they are supposed to move from page to page. Then they discover that they are supposed to move from left to right and from top to bottom when reading.
They then learn how a word is formed, how a phrase is formed and how a sentence is formed. Then, they move on to paragraphs, chapters and books. They also learn how punctuation controls the tempo of reading.
Reading aloud with a child is an effective way to help them learn syntax. It is recommended that the parent follow the words with a finger when reading to a child. This helps the child perceive the structure and helps them relate words on a page to words being spoken.
Semantics
Semantics has to do with meaning: how words in a sentence relate to other words in that sentence. This skill allows the reader to define words and understand what different words mean. It’s how one understands what story or meaning is being conveyed by the words.
Reading stories, especially fairy tales, to a child helps them develop a grasp of semantics. Encouraging children to guess the ending of a story while it is being read helps them develop the habit of using their skill in semantics, thus strengthening it.
Phonics
Phonics is the mechanical process of learning to say words. It is the process of sorting words by the letter or sound they begin with or the letter or sound they end with. Children learn to pronounce words mechanically and systematically when phonics is taught correctly, learning the difference between how each letter sounds.
Reading rhyming books or singing songs, which always “rhyme” with children, is seen as one of the best ways to develop their ability to grasp phonics.
How Early Can a Child Learn to Read?
According to Michelle Novatscou, Director of Cuddles Childcare Centres, there is no cut-and-dried age limit for reading:
“Our experience and numerous studies on the subject, suggest that there is no age that is ‘too early’ to start teaching a child to read. If a parent begins reading to a child every day, that child will let the parent know when they are ready to learn by how they react to the parent reading to them.”
Ms Novatscou concluded, “At Cuddles Childcare Centres, our Jolly Phonics program helps children of all ages learn an important reading skill in a fun environment. They all benefit.”
Cuddles Childcare Centres have three locations in the Perth area. They combine child care and pre-school education with their concept of “learning through play.” For more information, please call their Bertram location on (08) 9419 1844, their St James location on (08) 9358 4673 or their Carlisle location on (08) 9472 4702. You may also visit their website: http://www.cuddleschildcare.com.au/.
Learning to read involves developing three basic skills: syntax, phonics and semantics. Most children begin to grasp semantics first, but all children are different and some may grasp one of the other two skills first.
Syntax
Syntax has to do with form. It is how words fit together to create phrases, sentences and paragraphs, but it starts with simply recognising that a book has pages. The child figures out that they are supposed to move from page to page. Then they discover that they are supposed to move from left to right and from top to bottom when reading.
They then learn how a word is formed, how a phrase is formed and how a sentence is formed. Then, they move on to paragraphs, chapters and books. They also learn how punctuation controls the tempo of reading.
Reading aloud with a child is an effective way to help them learn syntax. It is recommended that the parent follow the words with a finger when reading to a child. This helps the child perceive the structure and helps them relate words on a page to words being spoken.
Semantics
Semantics has to do with meaning: how words in a sentence relate to other words in that sentence. This skill allows the reader to define words and understand what different words mean. It’s how one understands what story or meaning is being conveyed by the words.
Reading stories, especially fairy tales, to a child helps them develop a grasp of semantics. Encouraging children to guess the ending of a story while it is being read helps them develop the habit of using their skill in semantics, thus strengthening it.
Phonics
Phonics is the mechanical process of learning to say words. It is the process of sorting words by the letter or sound they begin with or the letter or sound they end with. Children learn to pronounce words mechanically and systematically when phonics is taught correctly, learning the difference between how each letter sounds.
Reading rhyming books or singing songs, which always “rhyme” with children, is seen as one of the best ways to develop their ability to grasp phonics.
How Early Can a Child Learn to Read?
According to Michelle Novatscou, Director of Cuddles Childcare Centres, there is no cut-and-dried age limit for reading:
“Our experience and numerous studies on the subject, suggest that there is no age that is ‘too early’ to start teaching a child to read. If a parent begins reading to a child every day, that child will let the parent know when they are ready to learn by how they react to the parent reading to them.”
Ms Novatscou concluded, “At Cuddles Childcare Centres, our Jolly Phonics program helps children of all ages learn an important reading skill in a fun environment. They all benefit.”
Cuddles Childcare Centres have three locations in the Perth area. They combine child care and pre-school education with their concept of “learning through play.” For more information, please call their Bertram location on (08) 9419 1844, their St James location on (08) 9358 4673 or their Carlisle location on (08) 9472 4702. You may also visit their website: http://www.cuddleschildcare.com.au/.