Read to me! Learning about how text works  

Reading aloud to children can be a wonderful way to build children's literacy skills. In fact, there are few things that are

more effective. Children learn all kinds of things through

read aloud. One of the things they learn is how text works. This is called gaining Concepts of Print. Children learn where the front of the book is, that the words are what we read (not the pictures), that the text stays the same each time we read it, that we read from front to back, left to right and top to bottom. Here are some easy things that you can do when you read with a child to promote understanding of the Concepts of Print:    

* Show your child the title of the book. Say, "This is the title or name of the book. It's always on the front."

* Point to the words as you read. Invite your child to point, too.  
 

* Ask your child to show you the space in between the words, "The end." (This helps them understand that words have spaces between them.)

Parent Tip: Make a little book with your child. Ask them to show you the words, the illustrations, and the title. Read it together.