7 Things to Expect in a Reading Program

As the cliché goes, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. In kindergarten, children are involved in reading and writing programs. As parents, we should know the things and activities that we should be expecting when enrolling our kids to a reading program. Here we discuss the seven things to expect in a preschool reading program.

1.  The Alphabet. It is not surprising that even before the child enters the school, he is already familiar with the alphabet because his parents taught him at home. During a reading program, kids are also taught with the basics using different approaches, such as playing an ABC balloon game in which the kids are asked to form a circle, toss the balloon from side to side, and the kid with the balloon will recite the letters as the activities go along. In this way, the child is able to play while learning.

2.  Children are exposed to phonics during reading program. These are activities utilized specifically for children at an early age for them to learn how to practice saying the sound of the words or the words itself.  In these activities, the teacher will be the first one to pronounce the word and he or she would allow the children to speak up and mimic what she had said. They would often associate the words with pictures so that the child will easily recognize the words.

3. Writing. Kids are taught how to write by using books with tracing materials on it. This is the fastest way for kids to learn how to write at an early age. Of course, these tracing papers are only here for a short while as the child learns how to write the letters without the dotted lines to guide him.

4. Expect a lot of take home activities for the kids. Fun practice makes perfect. More often, the child is given a test to see if they are able to retain the things that they learned in school.  Usually, these are in the form of storytelling, role playing or reading, and comprehension tests.

5.  A child’s confidence is built because at an early age, he or she will be proficient in reading and writing. Although reading proficiency is not the only measure of success, it pays to at least enroll the child in a reading and writing program.  In reading classes, there are plenty of opportunities for learning. The classroom environment is conducive to learning and interaction.  The teachers use developmentally appropriate reading and writing materials to insure that children are getting what is developmentally appropriate for their kids. 

6. There are different reading strategies applied to reading and writing programs. There is individual storytelling and guided reading incorporated in the curriculum.

7. There are different stages in drawing and writing. First stage includes the random scribbling, controlled scribbling, lines and patterns and pictures of objects and people, and letter and word practice.  These are integrated in the curriculum allowing the children to learn at a proper pace.  After these stages, the artworks of children are placed on the wall or displayed for them to see the progress of their work and for them to feel a sense of accomplishment in their task.