Dictate a Story - Read with your child.

Dictate a story - Read with your child.

One of the ways I taught my daughter to read, was to write down her own words; I took dictation. It's a fun way to make reading books; using family photos and such, and writing down our children's words.

I started this when my daughter first started talking, and continued it through her early years of writing herself. At 17, she still enjoyed reading those early dictations.

From my daughter's view,

as a teen-ager.

In school the word "dictation" means copying loads of notes from the board and is no fun, but talking about events in a picture and seeing the exact words written on a notecard is. As a little kid you just think you're having fun inventing captions for weird and funny pictures, but at the same time you're being creative you're also learning how to spell. This is important because everyone loves (or at least is impressed by) a little kid who knows how to say what they want AND spell it, too.

The coolest thing about dictation was that it was something to build on. After writing captions for pictures became too simple, it was taken to the next level of telling a one-page story.

Get your picture ready.

I used the larger unruled index cards. I cut some family photos out, glued them to the index cards. Then I showed them to my daughter and asked her to tell me something about them. I then wrote her words down under each photo.

Index cards

I prefer the unruled index cards, or else I just flip them over and use the back. I like the 4 x 6, they fit into most photo sleeves, which protects the pages.

UNV47236 - 4 x 6 Multi-Color Ruled Index Cards

Amazon Price: $6.93 (as of 07/13/2009)

Recycled Oxford Index Cards, Unruled, 4"x6", White, 100/Pack ESS40

Amazon Price: $3.76 (as of 07/13/2009)

A Booklet

I then slid the dictated index cards into photo sleeves. I even made my own photo booklets, to put the dicated story cards into, but now you can purchase mini photo albums that will do just fine.

However, if you're really crafty and like to make things - you can take a thick photo album, remove the spine of photo pages from the album, cut between where the photo sections are divided, and glue the back strip of that to a fabric vinyl piece, that you have measured and cut for a cover. Then you can decoate the cover with markers, etc.

Mini Photo Albums make nice booklets for your dicated story book.

Pioneer Bi-Directional Memo Pocket Album, White

Amazon Price: $12.50 (as of 07/13/2009)

Photo Pouches / Wallet - Wedding, Honeymoon or Shower Gift

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 07/13/2009)

Pioneer Seville Strap Series Sewn Album, Burgandy

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)

Pioneer Seville Strap Series Sewn Album, Green

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)

"The best way to encourage reading - is to make reading fun. Kids like telling their own stories."

Dictated Stories in Scrapbooks

As my daughter got a bit older and started drawing and making art projects, I glued them into a scrap book, and also had her draw into the scrapbook. Then later we went back and did some more dictated stories (captions) under the artwork. This is also a favorite keeper.

Scrapbooks

Scrapbooks make it easy to include the child's artwork, and/or drawing, and then writing down what they've said about their drawing.

Vintage Mickey Paint Spot Handcrafted, Genuine Leather Journal Diary

Amazon Price: $47.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

Overton House Scrapbook - Seaside

Amazon Price: $27.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

Writing and Drawing Instruments

It's fun to read, write, and draw in color.

Pioneer Acid Free Standard Color Gel Ink Pens

Amazon Price: $5.50 (as of 07/13/2009)

Glue stick - non-toxic

A non-toxic glue stick is simple and easy to use with little ones.

Elmer's Products #E512 2PK .42OZ AP Glue Stick

Amazon Price: $1.64 (as of 07/13/2009)

Scissors for children

When creating with children, child safe scissors are the best, and always with supervision.

KleenEarth Steel Children's Safety Scissors, Green Handles, 1-7/8" Cut, 5-1/2"L ACM15515

Amazon Price: $2.35 (as of 07/13/2009)

"Stainless steel blades are sonically welded to 70% recycled plastic handles. Manufacturer's ten-year warranty."

Older children like

to make their own stories too.

Make a hardback story book with your child -

With the materials provided, the information is sent to a publisher that will typeset and illustrate with your childs artwork, in a hardbound 12 page book.

IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit

Amazon Price: $18.31 (as of 07/13/2009)

"Our son has written 2 books with Illustory already! He loves seeing the words that he writes typed onto the pages (by the company) and the drawings he does come out beautifully printed on the book. He is so excited and proud of himself when he shows his friends, family and teacher his publications! The book even comes with an About-the-Author page just like real published books! Everything that you need to write and draw is provided in the kit and the instructions are very easy to follow. In just a few weeks you get back a real hardcover book! The experience was so terrific, we plan on having him write a book each year so he can see how much his writing changes year after year. And just as soon as his new baby sister is old enough, we'll start her writing books with Illustory too. The books are a great family keepsake. We love them." Sally from Kansas

Share reading fun with bookmark cards

As your child gets older, another way to share reading fun is with fun bookmarks. You can have fun making some yourself or choose from some already made. To see more designs, just click on the card.

Sea Horse and Seashell Bookmark Card: Bookmarks Sea Horses and Seashells on purple
by
Cherylsart

Get this custom card at Zazzle

Bookmarks for young ones on Amazon

Twelve Fairyland Bookmarks (Dover Little Activity Books)

by: Richard Doyle

Amazon Price: $1.50 (as of 07/13/2009)

Thank you for your comments, rating this lens, and/or for your purchase.

See something you'd like to try or have done, share your comments here.

Lensmaster

Barkely wrote...

Great stuff, thanks for adding this to the Fun For Kids group!

Posted May 25, 2008

Lensmaster

tdove wrote...

Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

Posted April 24, 2008

Lensmaster

Evelyn_Saenz wrote...

The way you taught your daughter to read by writing down her words is promoted by Lucy Calkins who I feature in Teaching from the Heart. This is a wonderful lens. (lensrolled) Please consider joining Unit Studies: Fun,Active, and Creative Learning.

Posted February 16, 2008

Lensmaster

CardLady wrote...

Great lens! Thanks for contributing to my Best Children's Book Lens http://www.squidoo.com/bestchildrensbooks/
I have lensrolled this lens.

Posted August 12, 2007

Lensmaster

estories wrote...

Excellent suggestion! I like your idea that the project should be age appropriate to the child! I feel that small children can be overwhelmed by a complex project! I invite parents of preschoolers to submit their children's own stories but I stress that a couple of lines is fine for a small child!

Posted May 07, 2007

About Me

Lensmaster CreativeArtist, aka Cheryl Paton, has been a member since January 11 2006, has rated 452 lenses, favorited 36, and has created 120 lenses from scratch. Cheryl Paton donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and All Golf's Kids. This member's top-ranked page is "Acrylic Painting Techniques". See all my lenses

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Cheryl Paton is a wife, mother, and positive artist, with varied inerests. Cheryl started her art business, Creative Brushstrokes, LLC, in 2006. Her designs are purchased online at www.zazzle.com/CherylsArt*/ on stamps, t-shirts, aprons, ties, and more.

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Dictate a Story - Read with your child.