The Five Pillars of Reading
1. Phonemic Awareness: The ability to break a word into parts or phonemes. The books expose children to rhyming, word segmenting, and fun words that encourage them to repeat sounds. Each book contains a section of blending sounds to make words as well. This activity encourages parents to do this activity with their children.
2. Phonics: Phonics instruction teaches the child to match the sounds to letters, children slowly learn that different letters represent sounds, and learn the corresponding vowel and consonant patterns. Listening to the books helps a child hear the sounds and see that the letters represent the sounds. The reader can point out the different letters and show them how to stretch out words. As a child gets older, they can practice writing the letters that match the sounds too.
3. Fluency: Fluency is the ability to read text accurately and at a good pace. As we learn how to decode words it becomes easier to achieve fluency. A young child should listen to fluent readers to understand how that sounds. They can also practice the songs and simple text in the book series to feel what it’s like to fluently read. Children need to hear many models of fluent readers to set the stage for future reading.
4. Vocabulary: Vocabulary refers to the words we use to communicate effectively. Children should be exposed to many books at a young age to help build their vocabulary knowledge. The book series is vocabulary-rich and introduces the children to shapes, feelings, and other common objects. The illustrations are simple and engaging, which can also help reinforce the vocabulary.
5. Comprehension: Comprehension is the goal of reading. The series uses questions to help the listener become more engaged in the stories to help build on their comprehension. The books encourage curiosity and learning, and also use language that connects to their own world.
2. Phonics: Phonics instruction teaches the child to match the sounds to letters, children slowly learn that different letters represent sounds, and learn the corresponding vowel and consonant patterns. Listening to the books helps a child hear the sounds and see that the letters represent the sounds. The reader can point out the different letters and show them how to stretch out words. As a child gets older, they can practice writing the letters that match the sounds too.
3. Fluency: Fluency is the ability to read text accurately and at a good pace. As we learn how to decode words it becomes easier to achieve fluency. A young child should listen to fluent readers to understand how that sounds. They can also practice the songs and simple text in the book series to feel what it’s like to fluently read. Children need to hear many models of fluent readers to set the stage for future reading.
4. Vocabulary: Vocabulary refers to the words we use to communicate effectively. Children should be exposed to many books at a young age to help build their vocabulary knowledge. The book series is vocabulary-rich and introduces the children to shapes, feelings, and other common objects. The illustrations are simple and engaging, which can also help reinforce the vocabulary.
5. Comprehension: Comprehension is the goal of reading. The series uses questions to help the listener become more engaged in the stories to help build on their comprehension. The books encourage curiosity and learning, and also use language that connects to their own world.