What Children Need to Learn to Read by Michelle Vallene

Spread the love

What Children Need to Learn to ReadStars: ★★★★☆

Learners Lane (2010)
Parenting/Education
Book/CD

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: A basic guide to helping your child learn to read from Birth to Age 6. What works best for each age group, how to make it fun and a large list of resources.
 
I’ve read up on children learning to read before and while The Reading Solution was about HOW children learn to read and why it’s important and The Book Whisperer was aimed at teacher, What Children Need to Learn to Read is aimed at the parent who just wants to know what to do to encourage their children to learn to read.

Although I feel I’m on track with helping my children with their reading I still wanted to read this book to see if there was anything else I should know and to review it for my readers as I know helping children with their education is a popular question that people want to know about.

What You’ll Find:

  1. Parent/Teacher Tips
  2. Language Accomplishment Checklist (Birth to Age 6)
  3. Reading Checklist for Parents
  4. Baby & Toddler Games
  5. Rhyming (Nursing Rhymes Mostly)
  6. Music & Songs (Words to common kid’s songs)
  7. Letters & Their Sounds
  8. Sight Words
  9. Read Alouds, Listening & Comprehension
  10. Phonics
  11. Writing
  12. Word Play
  13. Games
  14. Book Parties
  15. Beginning Readers Book Clubs
  16. Tongue Twisters
  17. Appendices and Resources
  18. Reading Chart
  19. Super Reader Award Certificate

PLUS an accompanying CD of the songs included in the book.

If looking above makes you think it will be complicated or something, rest at ease. The activities for each section are easy and a lot don’t require anything or require only a book.

I want to share the author’s note with you:

“Children who get behind in reading suffer in many ways. Self-esteem and learning in all other subject areas can begin to wane. In contrast, children who start “learning to read” early will then be “reading to learn” After they master the basics of reading, they will be able to move ahead much more quickly in all other subject areas. If we pledge to start using these simple reading strategies with our children from a very early age, we can combat illiteracy and help every child achieve their true potential through reading.” – pg 153

Think about that for a moment. Once you learn to read, you can read to learn. Instead of every time you read a book you focus on sounding words out and understanding what you are reading, you can read books to learn the information in them.

The resources section is great. There are resources for babies, children and parents. Books, magazines, websites and games (computer and board.) Books for different aspects of reading knowledge too. Suggestions for books at different reading levels and even children’s cookbooks. I think the resources section is the best part of the book.

The accomplishments checklist is a short list of what things a child should be able to do by a certain age. It’s a guideline.

I think this is a worthwhile resource for any parent who wants to ensure they instill a love of reading in their child as well as help them learn to read.

Buy What Children Need to Learn to READ from Amazon.com and help support SMS Nonfiction Book Reviews

About Kathleen

I've been a nonfiction lover for as long as I can remember. I love children's nonfiction as well and love to share my knowledge and the books I gained them from, with the world. I wish more people would give nonfiction a chance.