Every parent wants their child to read with success every time they read. But the truth is, there are lots of moving parts in reading. You may wonder about this statement, but think about this… Every story has lines of print. A child must learn to read left to right and then repeat. Every child must learn to read top to bottom. Every child must learn to take a breath at a comma and a stop at a period. Every child must figure out crazy words like Names that don’t follow rules. AND THEN, they must learn words!!

FIND THE  WORDS

A Word Search Game is a lot like driving down the road and having your child recognize names like Pizza and Ice Cream on signs. Isn’t it strange how they recognize these words without ever being taught the word by anyone??? The Word Search Game mimics this skill. This game, however, takes more preparation than the two previous games. You’ll notice I have modified instructions depending on the age of the reader. Here’s how to play the game:

• Choose a book from the Interest Book Game.
• Peruse through the book looking for words that have a tangible meaning in your home OR a word from a classroom Dolce list (https://www.nala.ie/tutors/top-tips/teaching-reading/common-words) For example: bathtub might be in the book… you have a bathtub in your house. For every word that your child should know from the Dolce List or an item in your house, make a Word Card on a sticky note. For real items, like the bathtub, place the sticky note near the tub to be read every time your child takes a bath or is in the bathroom. For DOLCE words, begin a list on the back of a door, on the bathroom mirror.
• Begin having your child recognize the words and read them.
• When you think your child has a pretty good handle on the words, bring out the book that you chose from the Interest Book.
• Start your Word Search Game. Have your child open the book. On each page, have your child locate and recite words they recognize. At the back of the book, write the number of words they recognized on a sticky note.
• Have your child make up a celebration dance or handshake for finding at least 75 percent of the words. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE POSITIVE…EVEN IF IT’S ONE WORD!!
• Remember, you do NOT want to play this game until you are positive that your child has mastered the sticky notes that go with the book!!
• You have successfully completed the Word Search Game for this book. Move onto the next book.

 

 

Books highlighted: ALOHA BEAR AND THE MEANING OF ALOHA, MARY HAD A LITTLE JAM ETC. , AND FRANKLIN RIDES A BIKE