Have you ever wondered what you should do to help a child learn to read? It really starts with just reading….but there are simple, easy, important things to do as you read. These are called print concepts which are essential to reading and writing. So check out 6 ways to easily develop concepts of print to help beginning readers.
What are Concepts About Print?
Some of these include:
- left to right tracking of words
- top and bottom of the page
- front and back of the book
- front cover
- page numbers
- punctuation marks
- spaces between words
Click to get Concepts of Print Worksheet |
What can you do to help develop concepts about print?
1. Practice Print Concepts
Talking about words, letters, and stories develops print concepts that in short makes reading fun and engaging. Basically, you need model concepts of print and practice manipulating text whenever you can. Constantly focus on print when doing tasks throughout the day and provide varied, fun ways to practice reading. Click here to see fun ways to begin reading before words are known.
2. Read to develop print concepts
Constant exposure to different kinds of text plus understanding how print works will help develop the skills needed for kiddos to become successful readers. So be sure to read each day. Yes, it’s ok to read and reread the same book!
3. Look for Patterns in Print and Pictures
- repetitive sentence patterns (I see the . . . ),
- sentence location on each page,
- a common character located on each page somewhere (Mercer Mayer has a cricket, grasshopper, mouse, or spider on each pag
- In Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown has the mouse all around the room…and check out the clock.)
4. Sentence Construction
5. Write a Grocery List to Develop Concepts of Print
Some things to ask:
- “Should we put our first word at the top or the bottom?”
- “Will the
first letter go on the right or the left?” - “Should the K in Kix be upper case or lower case?”
6. Sight Word Work Sentence Building
Make everyday magical,