Beginning to Read
Ranked #1,126 in Education, #25,983 overall
Helping Children Learn to Read
Mrs. Wishy Washy and The Big Bad Pig are inviting all beginning readers to join them in the adventure of learning to read. Learn how to make Word Walls, Literacy Bags, activities for Center Time and lots, lots, more.
You will find suggested beginning reading books, games, and activities to promote beginning reading skills. Word Walls, Write the Room activities, ABC games and lots more to help beginning readers develop the skills necessary to become fluent readers.
Get your Beginning Reader off to a fun and exciting start with the following Beginner Reading books and activities for teaching children how to read.
Photo Credit: Beginning to Read
on Grandma's Graphics, Public Domain
My very favorite Beginning Readers for Spring
Mother Reading a Story to Her Two Children
Available at Allposters.com
The ideal beginning reader has beautiful illustrations, limited vocabulary, no more than one or two sentences per page and is appealing to both the adult and the child. Baby Lamb's First Drink fulfills all of those requirements.
Beginning Readers for Spring
Mrs. Wishy-Washy
These are some of our favorite beginning readers for spring. Beginning readers or Emergent Readers are small books with just a few pages, beautiful illustrations that help to tell the story and simple text with no more than a line or two on each page. These books are so easy to read that beginning readers quickly gain confidence in their ability to read. Try to make time for your child to read an emergent reader several times a day out loud to an adult or older sibling. Reading often helps a child begin to recognize instantly high frequency words on the page.
Predictable Easy Beginning Readers
These Beginning Readers are fun for both Adults and Children
Two Girls Sprawled at Opposite Ends of a Sofa Engrossed in their Books
Available at Allposters.com
These are my favorite beginning reading books.
Each of these books have very limited vocabulary especially designed for the beginning reader but unlike most limited vocabulary books these books are enjoyable for adults as well as children.
By adding a stuffed animal and a few activities these books would make great Take Home Literacy Bags".
Books that Launched my children into Reading
Beginning to Read
Beginning Readers need to develop a habit of bringing a book with them wherever they go. Having a favorite book at the doctor's office or wherever you have to wait makes the time pass quickly and encourages reading.When my children were beginning to read these are the books that hooked my children on reading.
These are the books that prompted by children to go into a panic if the library was closed and they didn't have a new book to read when they finished the one they were reading. These are the books that they have read over and over.
I included the stuffed raccoon because my youngest, like many other children, can't read without a stuffed animal in her arms.
Photo Credit: Reading
on WPClipart
Favorite Pointers for Beginning Readers
Pointing and Beginning to Read
Mrs. Smith's children love to use pointers as they Read the Room.
Pick your favorite pointers. Pick as many as you like.
Come back and add more.
Beginning readers are delighted to move around as they focus on reading the words. The pointers keep them focused on the words that can be found on WordWalls around the room.
The Cat-O-Nine Tail is fun to use when studying a swampy area unit like Frogs, Alligators, or Purple Gallinules.
Fancy Nancy likes to use a bubble wand or a long peacock feather.
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Word Walls for Beginning Readers
High Frequency Words
You can make your WordWalls Hands-On by attaching key words with Velcro strips or sticky tack.
This technique allow students to go to the Wall, remove a word, use it at their desks, and return it.
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Write Your Own Stories
When Beginning Readers write their own stories they know what to expect.
WRITE YOUR OWN BOOK:
Another way to get interesting books that both you and your beginning reader will love to read is to make them yourselves.
1. Take a piece of computer paper.
2. Fold it in half and in half again.
3. Open it up and cut it across the short way
4. Now take a piece of Card Stock and cut and do the same thing.
5. Put the computer paper into one of the pieces of card stock and staple it on the fold.
6. Putting tape over the staples can keep little fingers from getting hurt.
7. Now you have a four paged book.
8. Have your child draw a picture for each page and dictate a sentence for it.
9. You write the sentence sounding out each word for your child as you write it.
10. Give the book a title and write by ______. with your child's name as the author.
11. Don't forget to put the copyright date.
Keep these books on the bookshelf with your other books and reread them often.
READING IN THE BATHROOM:
Post quotes from books you are reading in the bathroom with the name of the Author. Ask your child for suggestions. The more they are involved the more likely they are to read and remember. Keep a basket of magazines in the bathroom.
CHARTS AND GRAPHS:
Make charts and graphs of the information you learn as you study. Post these around the room, or in a three ring binder. Add to and refer to them often.
WORD WALL:
Make sure that the wall is big enough to be able to read the words from where your child sits to write. Use this wall for Dolch Words and other words that the children have a hard time remembering how to spell.
PERSONAL OFFICE:
Help your child make a personal office with his/her own list of words that he/she is working on as well as a list of reminders such as remembering to capitalize, indent paragraphs, etc.
HANDWRITING and SPELLING PRACTICE:
Your child might like writing in the mud outside, on a cookie tray covered with mud or sand, or painting their words with water outside on the sidewalk. See It's Raining! It's Pouring". When picking spelling words have each child look in their journals for words that they are having difficulty remembering how to write. Your child might like to use goldfish crackers to form words and then gobble them up. It can be fun to write the words in glue on black card stock and sprinkle with gold glitter. Hang strings across the room and use clothespins to attach the words to the strings. See See Starry Starry Night".
READ ALOUD:
Even though the children are beginning to read themselves it is very important to continue to read to them. Read to the children at various times throughout the day. After reading City Mouse/Country Mouse you might try rewriting it as River Otter/Sea Otter. Try rewriting The Three Bears as The Three Alligators. After reading The Cat Sat on the Mat make up more pages for the story. Try turning your new stories into a play.
RESEARCH:
Read lots of non-fiction books about whatever you and your child are interested in. Make graphs and charts about what you learned. Write your own non-fiction and fiction beginning readers. Read several ABC books and then write a your own ABC book. Brainstorm together for ideas for each letter.
You can find lots more ideas, activities, and games for beginning readers. There are ideas for studying Adjectives and making Home Work fun.
Learn about Woodchucks, lemmings, or tigers. Learn all about oviparous or egg laying animals at Bluebirds, Purple Gallinules, Frogs, or Alligators.
Another way to get interesting books that both you and your beginning reader will love to read is to make them yourselves.
1. Take a piece of computer paper.
2. Fold it in half and in half again.
3. Open it up and cut it across the short way
4. Now take a piece of Card Stock and cut and do the same thing.
5. Put the computer paper into one of the pieces of card stock and staple it on the fold.
6. Putting tape over the staples can keep little fingers from getting hurt.
7. Now you have a four paged book.
8. Have your child draw a picture for each page and dictate a sentence for it.
9. You write the sentence sounding out each word for your child as you write it.
10. Give the book a title and write by ______. with your child's name as the author.
11. Don't forget to put the copyright date.
Keep these books on the bookshelf with your other books and reread them often.
READING IN THE BATHROOM:
Post quotes from books you are reading in the bathroom with the name of the Author. Ask your child for suggestions. The more they are involved the more likely they are to read and remember. Keep a basket of magazines in the bathroom.
CHARTS AND GRAPHS:
Make charts and graphs of the information you learn as you study. Post these around the room, or in a three ring binder. Add to and refer to them often.
WORD WALL:
Make sure that the wall is big enough to be able to read the words from where your child sits to write. Use this wall for Dolch Words and other words that the children have a hard time remembering how to spell.
PERSONAL OFFICE:
Help your child make a personal office with his/her own list of words that he/she is working on as well as a list of reminders such as remembering to capitalize, indent paragraphs, etc.
HANDWRITING and SPELLING PRACTICE:
Your child might like writing in the mud outside, on a cookie tray covered with mud or sand, or painting their words with water outside on the sidewalk. See It's Raining! It's Pouring". When picking spelling words have each child look in their journals for words that they are having difficulty remembering how to write. Your child might like to use goldfish crackers to form words and then gobble them up. It can be fun to write the words in glue on black card stock and sprinkle with gold glitter. Hang strings across the room and use clothespins to attach the words to the strings. See See Starry Starry Night".
READ ALOUD:
Even though the children are beginning to read themselves it is very important to continue to read to them. Read to the children at various times throughout the day. After reading City Mouse/Country Mouse you might try rewriting it as River Otter/Sea Otter. Try rewriting The Three Bears as The Three Alligators. After reading The Cat Sat on the Mat make up more pages for the story. Try turning your new stories into a play.
RESEARCH:
Read lots of non-fiction books about whatever you and your child are interested in. Make graphs and charts about what you learned. Write your own non-fiction and fiction beginning readers. Read several ABC books and then write a your own ABC book. Brainstorm together for ideas for each letter.
You can find lots more ideas, activities, and games for beginning readers. There are ideas for studying Adjectives and making Home Work fun.
Learn about Woodchucks, lemmings, or tigers. Learn all about oviparous or egg laying animals at Bluebirds, Purple Gallinules, Frogs, or Alligators.
Write Your Own Book
Start your Beginning reader on the road to becomming an author.
Most educators now use the Writing Process to help children learn to write.
Children learn to focus on the process of creating writing rather than the end product which frees them to experiment with different genres and to work collaboratively.
When writing, students learn to utilize the stages of the writing process including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
Prewriting is the planning and idea-gathering stage. Drafting refers to time spent composing a rough draft. Revising is the process of improving the draft.
Students reread their work and share it with a partner or small group; they then make changes in the writing based on the feedback from their peers.
Editing is the process of correcting mechanical errors. Publishing is done when the work is in final form and ready to be shared.
Once the children have taken a story through these stages they are ready for publishing.
To publish the child illustrate the book pages and either type the words on a computer or have an adult type them for them.
The completed story is then bound with a professional looking cover which is made by the children with the help of older students or with parents in a collaborative workshop.
The books include a title, dedication page and "About the Author" biography page to give them a truly professional touch.
When finished they are ready to display in the classroom library and sturdy enough for the school library or to be used in Literacy Bags.
At the end of the year parents will want it to proudly display their children's books on their coffee tables.
Publishing a story can build self esteem and excitement for reading and writing. The quality of the finished book is a tremendous value and rewards any level of effort.
Children learn to focus on the process of creating writing rather than the end product which frees them to experiment with different genres and to work collaboratively.
When writing, students learn to utilize the stages of the writing process including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
Prewriting is the planning and idea-gathering stage. Drafting refers to time spent composing a rough draft. Revising is the process of improving the draft.
Students reread their work and share it with a partner or small group; they then make changes in the writing based on the feedback from their peers.
Editing is the process of correcting mechanical errors. Publishing is done when the work is in final form and ready to be shared.
Once the children have taken a story through these stages they are ready for publishing.
To publish the child illustrate the book pages and either type the words on a computer or have an adult type them for them.
The completed story is then bound with a professional looking cover which is made by the children with the help of older students or with parents in a collaborative workshop.
The books include a title, dedication page and "About the Author" biography page to give them a truly professional touch.
When finished they are ready to display in the classroom library and sturdy enough for the school library or to be used in Literacy Bags.
At the end of the year parents will want it to proudly display their children's books on their coffee tables.
Publishing a story can build self esteem and excitement for reading and writing. The quality of the finished book is a tremendous value and rewards any level of effort.
Easy and Fun Beginning Readers
Books for Beginning to Read
These books have very few words per page and are interesting for both children and adults to read over and over again.
Add your favorite Easy Beginning Readers.
Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf) by Joy Cowley
Category: Nature
In a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers. This is a nature tale like you've never seen b...
Hop on Pop (Beginner Books(R))
Combines phonics and word recognition, making sounds and letters recognizable. Highly recommended. Full color.1 point
The Cat Sat on the Mat by Alice Cameron
Follow a cat through its day and try to guess where it will appear next in this peep-through-the-hole book. Through a repeated refrain and warm drawings, young children will learn simple vocabulary while searching for the mouse hidden in each illustration.1 point
Inside Outside Upside Down (Bright & Early Books(R)) by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain
Illus. in full color. A bear explores a carton on a truck and gets carried away. By the time he has returned, the reader will be exposed to the concepts of "inside, outside, upside down."1 point
PICKLE PICKLE PICKLE JUICE (10 Word Readers) by Patty Wolcott
Peter picks a million pickles which pop and form a pickle juice pond.1 point
Baby Lamb's First Drink (New PM Story Books) by Beverley Randell
A baby lamb is born and begins nursing on this beautiful spring day.1 point
Beginning Readers need lots of practice with lots of skills...
While the kids are working at their Learning Centers, the Teacher can work with Guided Reading Groups
- Guided Reading and Centers Ideas
- When I am busy with a guided reading group, what do the other students do and how is this organized?
Center Time for small groups of two or three Children
Organizing Center Time for maximum Learning
Center Time is an extended period during the day when children engage in self-selected activities.
Children explore and experiment with materials, deepen their understanding of various concepts, and practice budding skills.
Below you will find Otter related activities that can be set up as centers throughout the classroom.
In some classrooms students participate in three rotations during a 60-90 minute period.
Using a timer can help you to stay on track.
It is important to let students know that they should be working the entire time. Set up your system so that it includes things that students "must do" and things that students "can do."
A student should always have an activity to be working on.
This will help eliminate "I'm finished! What do I do now?"
Beginning Reading through Music
Sing Your Way into Reading
RHYMING AND CHORAL READING:
Copy poems and songs onto computer sized paper, slide them into clear plastic sheet savers and put them into a three ring binder.
Read and sing these daily and soon your child will be able to point to each word as you read it together.
Find a favorite pointer such as a fairy wand, a cat-o-nine tail, a pussy willow twig, or a finger to point to each word. Ask your child to find words that that begin with a certain letter or action words (verbs) or a word that rhymes with ___.
Laminating allows you to use dry erase markers on them so that you can
-trace over words beginning with a certain letter
-find words with a short o as in otter
-underline the verbs
-circle the nouns
You can find some great singable songs for children by Pete Seeger.
If you ask the parents of your students to get the CD's of the songs you are learning in school, they can sing along to them in the car and the children will learn to read them even faster.
By making booklets of these songs the children can read along in the car with the songs as well.
Copy poems and songs onto computer sized paper, slide them into clear plastic sheet savers and put them into a three ring binder.
Read and sing these daily and soon your child will be able to point to each word as you read it together.
Find a favorite pointer such as a fairy wand, a cat-o-nine tail, a pussy willow twig, or a finger to point to each word. Ask your child to find words that that begin with a certain letter or action words (verbs) or a word that rhymes with ___.
Laminating allows you to use dry erase markers on them so that you can
-trace over words beginning with a certain letter
-find words with a short o as in otter
-underline the verbs
-circle the nouns
You can find some great singable songs for children by Pete Seeger.
If you ask the parents of your students to get the CD's of the songs you are learning in school, they can sing along to them in the car and the children will learn to read them even faster.
By making booklets of these songs the children can read along in the car with the songs as well.
Rebuilding Sentences
Beginning to Read and Construct Sentences
Here is another great Learning Center Idea:
Once the children know a poem, song or chant by heart it is time to start rebuilding sentences. I make another copy of the chart but this time cut apart each of the sentences and then the words. I find that the first couple of times it is important to do this in front of the class so that they realize where the words come from. Later on cutting the sentences and words can also become a center activity.
1. Put the sentence strips back in order and read them with your partner.
2. Put the words back in order and read them with your partner.
3. Try to make new sentences and read them with your partner.
4. Write your new sentences and add them to a class book.
Once the children know a poem, song or chant by heart it is time to start rebuilding sentences. I make another copy of the chart but this time cut apart each of the sentences and then the words. I find that the first couple of times it is important to do this in front of the class so that they realize where the words come from. Later on cutting the sentences and words can also become a center activity.
1. Put the sentence strips back in order and read them with your partner.
2. Put the words back in order and read them with your partner.
3. Try to make new sentences and read them with your partner.
4. Write your new sentences and add them to a class book.
Beginning Reader Games
Games for Learning to Read
For more beginning reader games check out my Woodchucks lens.
TREND ENTERPRISES T-6067 BINGO RHYMING-AGES 4 AND UP
Learn 28 pairs of rhyming words by matching words, more...3 points
Quick Stick Instant Flannel Board
Raise flannel-board activities to new heights with more...1 point
Lite-Brite Cube
A new twist on the original light-up picture maker more...1 point
Read the Room
A center activity for Beginning Readers
READ THE ROOM:
Use index cards to label the room.
Ask your children to come up with one or two new words each day and attach them to everything in the room.
Later on you can use a pointer to "Read the Room" or "Write the Room" writing down a list of words that begin with a certain letter, things made of wood, things to put on a shelf etc.
You can find lots more "Read the Room" activities on my River Otter Lens.
Use index cards to label the room.
Ask your children to come up with one or two new words each day and attach them to everything in the room.
Later on you can use a pointer to "Read the Room" or "Write the Room" writing down a list of words that begin with a certain letter, things made of wood, things to put on a shelf etc.
You can find lots more "Read the Room" activities on my River Otter Lens.
Write the Room
Pointers are used in Read the Room and Write the Room center activities.
Write the Room Center- Children walk around and read words on posters, charts, books, and anywhere else in the classroom.
They use a clipboard to write the letters and words that they find.
Sometimes you might give the children specific things to look for such as words that begin with the letter 'a' or the names of friends.
Read the Room -
Many types of pointers are used to read print in the room.
The students go around the room reading words they know.
There are funny glasses, theme related masks, magnifying glasses, toilet paper binoculars, and paper towel telescopes that can be used while reading the room.
Many of the pointers are made with dowel sticks and craft foam cut outs.
I have found that pointers really help the children focus on the words.
Pointing to the words helps them to keep their place when writing the words and using the pointers feels like a privilege.
There are more activities to use with pointers on my Starry Night Lens.
They use a clipboard to write the letters and words that they find.
Sometimes you might give the children specific things to look for such as words that begin with the letter 'a' or the names of friends.
Read the Room -
Many types of pointers are used to read print in the room.
The students go around the room reading words they know.
There are funny glasses, theme related masks, magnifying glasses, toilet paper binoculars, and paper towel telescopes that can be used while reading the room.
Many of the pointers are made with dowel sticks and craft foam cut outs.
I have found that pointers really help the children focus on the words.
Pointing to the words helps them to keep their place when writing the words and using the pointers feels like a privilege.
There are more activities to use with pointers on my Starry Night Lens.
Pointers for Reading the Room
Beginning to Read the Room
POINTERS:
Many types of pointers can be used to read print in
the room. The students can go around the room reading words they know.
St Patrick's Day Green Shamrock Glasses
, theme related masks, magnifying glasses, toilet paper binoculars, and paper towel telescopes can be used while reading the room.
Pointers can also be made with dowel sticks and craft foam cut outs.
Cut a hole out of a fly swatter big enough to see individual words. (See photo)
Beginning readers need to focus on words and pointers help them to do just that.
Many types of pointers can be used to read print in
the room. The students can go around the room reading words they know.
St Patrick's Day Green Shamrock Glasses, theme related masks, magnifying glasses, toilet paper binoculars, and paper towel telescopes can be used while reading the room.
Pointers can also be made with dowel sticks and craft foam cut outs.
Cut a hole out of a fly swatter big enough to see individual words. (See photo)
Beginning readers need to focus on words and pointers help them to do just that.
Highlighter Tape
Another way to help beginning readers to focus on words.
HIGHLIGHTING TAPE:
Highlighter tape can help beginning readers focus on or draw attention to certain words.
How about having kids put green tape on nouns, purple tape on adjectives, etc.
Highlighter Tape Centers
Highlighter tape sticks right onto sentence strips, word cards, even classroom books. It easily peels off to use again!
Perfect for drawing extra attention to important words, syllables and phonics sounds.
It comes in 2 convenient sizes each in a wooden dispenser.
Highlighter tape can help beginning readers focus on or draw attention to certain words.
How about having kids put green tape on nouns, purple tape on adjectives, etc.
Highlighter Tape Centers
Highlighter tape sticks right onto sentence strips, word cards, even classroom books. It easily peels off to use again!
Perfect for drawing extra attention to important words, syllables and phonics sounds.
It comes in 2 convenient sizes each in a wooden dispenser.
Links to More Ideas and Materials for Beginning Readers
Dr. Jean - Songs and Activities for Young Children
Lots of ideas for teaching beginning reading!2 points
Rhyming Sounds Tubs:
As children match up objects by their rhyming soun more...2 points
http://www.lakeshorelearning.com
Highlighter Tape Centers Our handy highlighter tap more...2 points
Flash My Brain - the natural software for flash card learning.
Create and print out your own flashcards. Flash My more...2 points
Dictate a Story - Read with your child.
One of the ways I taught my daughter to read, was more...2 points
Explode the Code: Helping Beginning Readers Learn the Phonics Code
Phonics is another way to teach beginning reading skills
Having helped children learn to read for many, many years I have tried many different methods. No one method is right for all children but learning the code, or phonics* is one essential component.
As you can see from all my lenses I believe in teaching with games. Games that practice the phonics skills they are learning are essential.
The Explode the Code series introduces the phonics rules in a systematic manner.
It gives a few pages to practice these skills and then uses this knowledge in both reading and writing contexts.
Click on the link below to see a sample lesson but don't forget to come back.
The children I have taught enjoy these books and have learned the code more thoroughly than any other series I have used.
I have used them when I taught my homeschooling children to read as well as in a classroom setting.
I combine these with many other activities such as those you see in my other lenses to make learning to read fun, exciting and rewarding.
*According to Britannica.com Phonics is a method of reading instruction that breaks language down into its simplest components.
Children learn the sounds of individual letters first, then the sounds of letters in combination and in simple words.
Simple reading exercises with a controlled vocabulary reinforce the process.
Phonics-based instruction was challenged by proponents of "whole-language" instruction, a process in which children are introduced to whole words at a time, are taught using real literature rather than reading exercises, and are encouraged to keep journals in which "creative" spelling is permitted.
A strong backlash against whole-language teaching polarized these two approaches to reading instruction.
Many schools have since come to use a combination of the two techniques.
You can check out an Explode the Code Sample Lesson
You can see the way the short vowel a sound is taught in various contexts.
My favorite is page 23 where the picture helps to give visual clues to some very funny sentences.
The kids erupt in peals of laughter when they realize that they can read.
Listening for Ending Sounds
Here are some suggestions for games and activities to help beginning readers learn ending sounds.
1. Pick two CVC words where only the last letter changes such as (mud and mutt), (sat and Sam), or (bag and bam). Have the children write each of the letters that you are working on in large letters in chalk. (d,T)
2. Chant the words one at a time emphasizing the last sound with an explosion of air.
mud, mud
mud, mud, mud
mutt, mutt,
mutt, mutt, mutt.
3. The first time you chant each word use your finger to point to the ending letter.
The second time trace the letter with chalk.
The third time jump on the letter.
Transition Ending Sounds:
1. I call out if your name ends with the /d/ sound you can line up.
2. If the color of your shirt ends in a /d/ sound you may line up. etc.
3. If the child can say a word that ends with the /d/ sound he/she can line up.
Put away the animals:
I have a large collection of stuffed animals. I put letters on 2 or more boxes and ask the children to put each one away according to the final sound.
dog = /g/
pig = /g/
bat = /t/
elephant = /t/
Photo Album Puzzles:
I have clear plastic photo album pages.
I use index cards to glue pictures on one side and write the letters to CVC words on the other side. I then cut the cards into three equal pieces between the letters, mix them up and slip them into the album between the plastic sheets.
I have attached a picture of an animal, for example: dog on the page. The child pulls out the pieces with the letters facing up. He/she then says the word and puts the letters in order in between the plastic sheets. He/she then turns the page. If he/she has spelled the word correctly the picture will show a dog.
As the children progress or in First Grade I let them put these puzzles together on a Plexiglas table. They may have as many as 10 words all mixed up at once to put together. When they believe that they have them all correct they crawl under the table to check the pictures. I used to make this table out of 4 milk cartons and a sheet of Plexiglas.
CVC Bracelets: Make Index Cards with the CVC word on one side and a picture on the other. The children use Letter Beads and pipe cleaners to make bracelets with CVC words on them. When they believe that they have spelled the word correctly they turn the card over an match the letters to the beads.
See It's Raining It's Pouring for an example of these bracelets used in math games.
Explode the Code: I have found that Explode the Code is the best workbook for reinforcing phonics, spelling, handwriting, reading with the skills being taught and understanding the words in context. Besides this, the children love these books. The children who like to color are content and the ones that like to joke laugh at the funny sentences that can be made with the new words they are learning.
1. Pick two CVC words where only the last letter changes such as (mud and mutt), (sat and Sam), or (bag and bam). Have the children write each of the letters that you are working on in large letters in chalk. (d,T)
2. Chant the words one at a time emphasizing the last sound with an explosion of air.
mud, mud
mud, mud, mud
mutt, mutt,
mutt, mutt, mutt.
3. The first time you chant each word use your finger to point to the ending letter.
The second time trace the letter with chalk.
The third time jump on the letter.
Transition Ending Sounds:
1. I call out if your name ends with the /d/ sound you can line up.
2. If the color of your shirt ends in a /d/ sound you may line up. etc.
3. If the child can say a word that ends with the /d/ sound he/she can line up.
Put away the animals:
I have a large collection of stuffed animals. I put letters on 2 or more boxes and ask the children to put each one away according to the final sound.
dog = /g/
pig = /g/
bat = /t/
elephant = /t/
Photo Album Puzzles:
I have clear plastic photo album pages.
I use index cards to glue pictures on one side and write the letters to CVC words on the other side. I then cut the cards into three equal pieces between the letters, mix them up and slip them into the album between the plastic sheets.
I have attached a picture of an animal, for example: dog on the page. The child pulls out the pieces with the letters facing up. He/she then says the word and puts the letters in order in between the plastic sheets. He/she then turns the page. If he/she has spelled the word correctly the picture will show a dog.
As the children progress or in First Grade I let them put these puzzles together on a Plexiglas table. They may have as many as 10 words all mixed up at once to put together. When they believe that they have them all correct they crawl under the table to check the pictures. I used to make this table out of 4 milk cartons and a sheet of Plexiglas.
CVC Bracelets: Make Index Cards with the CVC word on one side and a picture on the other. The children use Letter Beads and pipe cleaners to make bracelets with CVC words on them. When they believe that they have spelled the word correctly they turn the card over an match the letters to the beads.
See It's Raining It's Pouring for an example of these bracelets used in math games.
Explode the Code: I have found that Explode the Code is the best workbook for reinforcing phonics, spelling, handwriting, reading with the skills being taught and understanding the words in context. Besides this, the children love these books. The children who like to color are content and the ones that like to joke laugh at the funny sentences that can be made with the new words they are learning.
Hop On Pop
Phonics is learning what letters and letter combinations "say."
Reading Hop On Pop is a great way for Beginning Readers to practice the phonics skills they are learning. I have lots of copies of this book in my classroom. We have cassettes of it in the listening center and the children are encouraged to take it home to read often. I also encourage the parents to buy this book and read it often at home.
Hop on Pop, an easier selection by Dr. Seuss (1963), has the following selections:
pages 3-5 short u "Up pup pup is up."
pages 22-24 short e "Red Red They call me Red."
pages 26-33 short a "Pat cat Pat sat on a cat." "Dad is sad. Very, very sad."
pages 40-41 short o "We like to hop on top of Pop."
pages 56-57 short i "Will is up hill still."
Magazines for Beginning Readers
Beautiful illustrations, large simple print and great Read Alouds. Listen to your child squeal with delight when these magazines show up at the door. Little to no advertising!
Your Big Backyard
Your Big Backyard is for children aged 3 to 7 year more...2 points
Whole Language Vs. Phonics Pole
How do you teach beginning readers?
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Mothering Magazine
- Mothering Magazine
- Natural Family Living
- Mothering Magazine
- How excited I was when I became pregnant with my first child. I began to read voraciously anything I could get my hands on about mothering and how to care for babies. I found magazines about parenting, child rearing and bottle feeding. None of these magazines seemed to speak to my heart about how I
Increase your Vocabulary
The more words you use when you speak with your child the better your child's vocabulary will be. Also, you may find that your child will be amused to help you learn new words too!
Teaching How to Read
Name Game
Making Frog Macaroni and Name Sticks
Name Games
NAME PUZZLES: Letter tiles for each child's name are put in a baggy with a name card. The child selects a baggy, puts the tiles in order and copies the name on a record sheet.
NAME BINGO: The child and his/her partner take turns picking a child's name stick, reading it and covering that space on a name bingo card. Use macaroni frog counters to cover.
NAME PUZZLES: Letter tiles for each child's name are put in a baggy with a name card. The child selects a baggy, puts the tiles in order and copies the name on a record sheet.
NAME BINGO: The child and his/her partner take turns picking a child's name stick, reading it and covering that space on a name bingo card. Use macaroni frog counters to cover.
Letter Beads and Pipe Claeners
For making Beginning Reader Bracelet Words
Whisper Phones
Beginning Readers use Whisper Phones to Quietly Read Aloud
Whisper Phones
This box contains two Whisper Phones.
These are elbow shaped plastic plumbing pipes.
The students use them to hear themselves read!
Beginning readers need to hear the words out loud while Whisper Phones help to keep the noise level down.
These phones are sometimes called Phonics Phones.
This box contains two Whisper Phones.
These are elbow shaped plastic plumbing pipes.
The students use them to hear themselves read!
Beginning readers need to hear the words out loud while Whisper Phones help to keep the noise level down.
These phones are sometimes called Phonics Phones.
PVC Pipe for making Whisper Phones
For Beginning Readers
Whisper Phones are not only fun to use but also remind children to speak quietly as they read aloud to themselves.
Alphabet Sorting Tray
Letter Sorting Center for Beginning Readers
These plastic letters help beginning readers learn letter shapes, build words, practice initial letter sounds, and reinforce sorting skills!
Sorting tray has 26 compartments, each with a letter of the alphabet printed inside, plus a card and letter storage section. Includes 75 picture-word cards, 75 word cards (135 when cut apart), and 51 lowercase letters.
Bananagrams
It seems to be like Scrabble except that everyone plays at the same time, you don't use a grid, and you can rearrange the letters even on words that you have already made.
Pull out the banana and let the kids practice forming their spelling or vocabulary words.
Beginning Readers Silly Sentences
Silly Sentences are fun for children. Set up a computer with Silly Sentence for the center and keep 2-4 children busily reading and having lots of fun.
At home this game would be great to play while sitting on Grandpa's lap or with an older homeschooling sibling.
At home this game would be great to play while sitting on Grandpa's lap or with an older homeschooling sibling.
- Silly Sentence
- Click on a word to change it into a silly sentence. Have fun reading high frequency words over and over again.
Graffiti Wall
It's fun to write on the Board
Let the kids write their favorite words on the Graffiti Wall. All you need is a chalk board, chalk and eraser. They can find their words anywhere in the room. When finished they circle their favorite word and later get to explain to the rest of the class why they picked that word.
Make sure that you get a chalkboard with full-length chalk rail. Buying a chalkboard that is magnetic will make it more versatile. If you are running out of wall space you can use a smaller portable chalkboard and store it behind a bookshelf.
Word Walls on eBay
Antique Readers
Lapbook Links
- In the Hands of a Child
- In the Hands of a Child began in 2002 when two homeschooling moms found themselves constantly searching for the right graphics and information for their children to complete lapbooks and trying to answer the question, "What exactly is a lapbook?"
- Deer Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child
- Sample Lapbook project on deer.
Chapter Books for Independant Readers Who are Just Taking Off
The Magic Treehouse series invites children to open a book and enter another world.
Beginning Readers for Valentines Day
Emergent Readers for Valentines Day
Halloween Stories for Beginning Readers
These books have large print, limited vocabulary and some are even predictable readers. They are perfect for most First Graders by Halloween Time.
They are just scary enough to be fun but not enough to really scare the children.
Thanksgiving Beginning Readers
Thanksgiving and Fall Themed books with large print, few words and predictable text.Fall is also downloadable in MobiStories format.
Beginning Readers for Christmas
There is no better gift for your child than a book with a warm lap to snuggle up in. Here are some of my family's favorites for Christmas.
Beginning to Read is now in the News!
Thank you to the Wheelers for including the Beginning to Read in their Directory.
- The Four Wheelers Unit Study Directory
- The Four Wheelers Internet Directory of Unit Studies contains a list, roughly arranged by subject, of links to unit studies that are published on the Internet.
- Furry friends help beginning readers
- Students in this program read to licensed therapy dogs for 20 minutes a week. The dogs not only offer a non-judgmental listening ear, they leave the ...
- Reading First work in Minnesota
- Teachers don't close the door and stand in front of the class. A steady stream of teachers, administrators and aides are in and out of the classrooms, watching, coaching and sitting down to read with kids. Teachers also meet for regular "data camps" to talk about how their kids are performing and what works. They even watch video of each other at work.
With more feedback the teacher can change to the instruction methods. To become that really good teacher, you need to have feedback.
Kids are taking on reading in all kids of ways. Some read or write along with a teacher, others map out the beginning, middle and end of a story. Able readers help their classmates. All this and more happens at the same time, in the same classroom.
Beginning Readers on GoodReads
Find more great books for Beginning Readers
I review many of the books mentioned on this lens at GoodReads where people exchange suggestions for great books for beginning readers and beyond.
More Beginning Reading Ideas, Centers and Activities
Each of the following lenses has new exciting ideas to add to your classroom or homeschool activities. Please let me know below the ones that you use most often.
MobiStories Help Children Learn to Read
Reading to your child is the single most important thing to do to help your child learn to read.
It also helps to calm them down when excited. But what happens if this is when you are in line at the bank, late for your older child's soccer game or trying to listen to the Doctor's instructions.
You can now have a library in your pocket. MobiStories are written by well-known authors whose stories have been loved by children for year. These digital books read the story to your child on any Mp3 player while your child watches the pages turn, seeds the large easy to read print and listens to a child read the story to him.
The following lenses will not only tell you about MobiStories but also have lots more beginning reading activities to get your child off to a great start, beginning to read.
How do your children learn to read?
Have you helped your child write a book yet? Have you written one for him/her?
Please let my know by leaving a comment here. Tell me about your favorite beginning reading book or teaching idea. Don't forget the stars at the top and if you lensroll this page or add it to your favorites please let me know so that I can reciprocate.
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RobinDM
Nov 24, 2011 @ 8:35 pm | delete
- Excellent information. I will be sharing this!
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vcochrane
Apr 22, 2011 @ 4:35 pm | delete
- Amazing lens. Well done. I love the Bang game.
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KarenTBTEN
Apr 16, 2011 @ 2:26 pm | delete
- An excellent, and very usable, resource.
SquidAngel blessings!
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franstan
Mar 30, 2011 @ 6:15 pm | delete
- Another super lens
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lindarandall
Feb 15, 2011 @ 1:10 am | delete
- i used to love reading berestain bear books to my kids when they were little. i found them and richard scarry's books easy for them to learn in grades 1,2, 3. blog rollin my children's stories, and tales about my toy poodle daisy with yours ;)
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raphaelo
Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:57 am | delete
- Thank you so much for your creating and sharing this great informative child reading guide. You're Angel here! I love it :)
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Asinka
Oct 17, 2010 @ 4:40 pm | delete
- Wow! This is such a wonderful work. A sort of reference for all wanting to teach kids to write. Keep up the good work!
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vallain
Sep 17, 2010 @ 4:18 pm | delete
- I applaud these wonderful ideas to encourage beginning readers. I hope parents take them to heart, as many can be used at home. Don't wait for the school to teach your child to love reading.
Lensrolled to my Reading Stickers for Children lens.
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Spook
Sep 17, 2010 @ 2:13 pm | delete
- Imagine not loving reading? As is so often the case with you, a terrific lens. Blessed by an Angel.
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SofiaMann
Sep 17, 2010 @ 2:10 pm | delete
- I remember when my children learned to read my house was full of words on the walls and many other places. It was a beautiful stage. In Spanish it is easier to teach reading by the phonetic analysis of words. In english probably is better the whole language method.
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lemonsqueezy
Sep 17, 2010 @ 1:58 pm | delete
- First, I need to say that this is a very thorough lens.
Second, I love to read to my children. We read multiple times a day. We can't get enough books.
Third, I loved your pic of the child on the potty. We are going to attempt to potty train my son this weekend. You have inspired me to sit a group of books next to his little potty. He'll love it!
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sheilamarie May 5, 2010 @ 2:08 pm | delete
- This is a fantastic lens! I will return again and recommend it to others. I love your games and your integration of many ways to teach a child to read. Excellent!
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Tipi
Aug 5, 2010 @ 6:33 pm | delete
- Excellent is right. - I'm thinking about doing some back to school lenses, and this is a great example of how to go about creating a master-piece.
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RuntFarmSeries
Oct 18, 2009 @ 8:27 pm | delete
- This is a wonderful lens! You've put together so much helpful information for teaching children to read. I'd love for you to drop by my children's books lens and say hello.
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May 22, 2009 @ 8:00 pm | delete
- Not only is this a great Lens, I've found it at the perfect time! I'm homeschooling my two boys, and working on teaching the older one to read right now. This will definitely be useful! Thanks so much!
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BarbRad
May 13, 2009 @ 1:41 pm | delete
- Once again you've done a thorough job that will help educators of all kinds.
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FueltheBrain
May 3, 2009 @ 8:02 am | delete
- Evelyn,
What an awesome lens! You have provided so much valuable information. I do a lot of the activities you mentioned with word walls, funky pointers, literacy centers, whisper phones, and games. We play Bang often in reading groups and the kids can't get enough. This lens is spot on! I also wanted to mention that the Word Wall book you featured under Teaching How to Read (Making Your Word Wall More Interactive) is phenomenal. I use it every week; it is filled with center games and whole group activities.
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purplelady
Nov 26, 2008 @ 8:21 pm | delete
- Wow, I am humbled by your not only visiting my Dr. Seuss site, but also adding it to your lensroll list. What an incredible lens your have created for how parents, grandparents, teachers, and (quite frankly) everyone who has contact with young children can help children to read. Also love your images and book suggestions.
I have lensrolled you to Dr. Seuss and given you 5 books (stars). Great site.
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Mortira
Sep 30, 2008 @ 12:21 pm | delete
- Teaching kids to read can be rewarding in so many ways - even unexpected ones. When I was helping my niece learn to read, I was amazed to find that the posters I made were helping my nephew with ASD learn to speak!
I love the Mr. Munchy Mouth idea! 5 stars and a 'roll!
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auberginecouch
Sep 25, 2008 @ 8:57 pm | delete
- Great lens - very comprehensive! This is really setting the benchmark for my future lenses :)
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Evelyn_Saenz
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