presentation script - Ohio Ready to Read

Awareness (understanding that print is everywhere, that letters and words have meaning, and learning
how books work), Print Motivation (the interest in books and reading), Vocabulary (learning new words),
Narrative Skills (understanding the parts of a story), and Letter Knowledge (knowing the ABC’s). This
may sound like a lot of skills for a six-year-old to learn, but these are things that can be easily taught
through play, and children at this age are eager to learn anything you want to teach them!
Some of the resources we have at the library include handouts with suggested activities, computer
games that cover all six skills, and toys that reinforce reading readiness. We even have backpacks filled
with toys, games, books, and CD’s that are tailored to fit each skill. (Show example backpack and explain
how the items inside fit with the particular skill.)
Recently, the State Library of Ohio has provided libraries with copies of the book You, Me, and the ABC’s
by Michael J. Rosen. This book is full of activities that a parent can do with their child to jumpstart their
reading career.
There are two things to keep in mind while using this book with your child. First, learning literacy skills
should be FUN. Never force your child to work on a certain skill as though they are in school. This is not
lesson time, it is play time. Kids should view word and letter activities like any other game or toy.
Making learning time and play time makes sure your child will want to learn and will learn more.
Secondly, the activities in this book are just a starting point. In order for early literacy play to work, it
must become part of your everyday routine. Think about your day and how busy you are. If you try to
fit half an hour of “lessons” in that cover letters and words, you will soon become frustrated and
discouraged. Instead, incorporate letters and literacy into the things you already do. Chances are, you
are already doing many things that help prepare your child for reading. You, Me, and the ABC’s will just
give you some new ideas to incorporate literacy into your life.
So, let’s start with the beginning to our day—breakfast. Turn to pages 10 and 11 in your copy of You,
Me, and the ABC’s. How easy is it to go to the store and buy some generic alphabet cereal? As soon as a
toddler can pick up a piece of cereal, he or she can be learning the letters in his or her name! Even if
they can’t answer back, you can still point out their first initial in their cereal, on street signs, in the
newspaper, even on your cell phone! Usually, the first letters children learn are those in their name,
and it is also usually the first word they learn to recognize on paper. Notice that every page in the book
has both a capital and lowercase letter. It is important for children to learn both sets of letters for
reading readiness. All of this, of course, leads to our skill Letter Knowledge. And, for a bonus, if you talk
about the sounds a letter makes that’s Phonological Awareness.
Let’s talk about Phonological Awareness for a second. This tends to be the hardest skill for a lot of
children. This is one skill that can start from birth and really evolve through a preschooler’s
development. The best thing you can do with a child to increase Phonological Awareness is to sing. The
notes of a song naturally break up words into syllables that are easily distinguished. Think about
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” (Sing song even if you have no singing voice and clap on each beat to
show how each syllable has its own note.) Don’t worry if you can’t sing. I’m willing to bet that many of
you want to cover your ears when your preschooler sings in the car, right? Totally tone deaf! But sing