Emergent Readers

The earliest stage of reading is referred to as the emergent stage. As an emergent reader, the child will:   

• Rely on the pictures to gather information about the story’s meaning.
• Understand that the actual message comes from the printed text.
• Realize that the reader has to move from left to right across the text.
• Point to words as they develop one-to-one matching.
• Locate words that s/he knows in text.
• Begin to develop phonemic awareness– an understanding that words are composed of a series of sounds. 

How can I help my emergent reader?

• Read aloud to your child every day!
• Point to each word as you read.
• Talk about the pictures and the story.
• Let your child hold the book and turn the pages.
• Read books that are predictable and have repetition, and encourage your child to join in with you.
• Read rhyming books such as Mother Goose, Dr. Seuss etc.