By Donna Vona, M.Ed.
the reading corner.
Short, practical posts from a veteran literacy intervention teacher on the first steps to reading: the signs a child is ready, a good first book, and five minutes of letter sounds a day.
- Written by
- Donna Vona, M.Ed.
- Each post
- About 5 minutes, short answer first
- For
- Parents, grandparents and teachers of 2 to 6s
Seven signs a literacy teacher looks for before a child starts reading, and what each one looks like at your kitchen table.
All four posts
read them in order, or start anywhere.
Each one opens with the short answer, then the details, a few things to try tonight, and the questions parents ask most.
- 1Readinessis my child ready to read? seven signs a teacher looks forSeven signs a literacy teacher looks for before a child starts reading, and what each one looks like at your kitchen table.
- 2
Age threewhat 'reading' actually looks like at three (and why it counts)Pointing, picture reading, retelling and reciting a favorite line are all real early reading, and here is why they matter. - 3
First bookswhat makes a good first book for a two- or three-year-oldBig pictures, the same words again and again, pages that survive a toddler, and how to read a first book together. - 4
Letter soundsfive minutes of letter sounds a day: a teacher's simple routine for preschoolersA five-minute daily routine for teaching letter sounds at home, starting with the five short vowels.
Free for parents and teachers
is your child ready to read? get the free checklist.
Donna’s Reading Readiness Checklist: the small signs a child is ready for a first book, and simple things to try at home tonight. Free by email, plus first word on the five-vowel set.
