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. She is 17 now, and still enjoys 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 to write on. I cut some family photos out, glued them to the index cards, showed them to my daughter, and asked her to tell me something about them. I then wrote her words down under the photo.

The best way to encourage reading

is to make reading fun.

Index cards

I preferred the unruled index cards. I usually used the 4 x 6, and they also come in 5 x 8 now too.

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A Booklet

I then slid the dictated index cards into 5 x 7 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 5 x 7 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: $8.29 (as of 10/12/2008)

Photo Pouches / Wallet - Wedding, Honeymoon or Shower Gift

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 10/12/2008)

Pioneer Seville Strap Series Sewn Album, Burgandy

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

Pioneer Seville Strap Series Sewn Album, Green

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

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: $48.95 (as of 10/12/2008)

Overton House Scrapbook- Seaside

Amazon Price: $27.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

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 10/12/2008)

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: $1.87 (as of 10/12/2008)

Scissors for children

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

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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: $14.95 (as of 10/12/2008)

"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 10/12/2008)

Links to More Ideas and Materials for Beginning Readers

Children Singing

One of the ways I taught my daughter to read, was more...2 points

created by Evelyn_Saenz

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Barkely

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

Posted May 25, 2008

tdove

Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

Posted April 24, 2008

Evelyn_Saenz

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

CardLady

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

estories

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

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Dictate a Story - Read with your child.

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