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Every Child Ready to Read

"If every parent understood the huge educational benefits and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children, and if every parent - and every adult caring for a child - read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within a generation. What's to stop us?" - Mem Fox, Reading Magic

Know The Six Pre-Reading Skills Your Child Needs To Read
Letter Knowledge Image

Letter Knowledge

Learning that each letter is distinct and that each letter has its own name and unique sound.
Phonological Awareness

Phonological Awareness

Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.
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Narrative Skills

Being able to describe things and events, being able to tell stories.
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Print Motivation

Being interested in and enjoying books.
Vocabulary Image

Vocabulary

Knowing the names of things.
Print Awareness Image

Print Awareness

Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page.

Know the Five Practices

Talking

Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation.

Singing

Songs are a natural way to learn about language.

Reading

The single most important activity.

Writing

Scribbling encouraged!  Connect the written word to the spoken.

Playing

Children learn a lot about language through different kinds of play.

Parents and Caregivers

Why are these skills so important?

Research shows that children who haven't experienced or explored these skills at a young age will have far more difficulty learning to read when they do enter school.

What can you do?

Your role as a parent, grandparent or caregiver is vitally important. You are your child's best teacher, and there are thousands of fun, easy ways to help your child learn these skills during your daily activities.

How can the library help?

Wright Library has trained staff and resources ready to help you get started. Stop by and talk to a Youth Services Librarian or sign up for a program to get hands-on experience for you and your child. The library's toddler, preschool and family programs introduce the six Every Child Ready To Read® skills in fun and exiting ways!

Check AR Levels - Type in the title of the book in the search box and click Go!