Concepts+About+Print

Concepts about Print #4 Focus: Tracking Print Left to Right

As you read books this week, use your pointer finger to track your reading. At this stage of learning to read, it is easier for the child to follow words and lines by using his/her finger. This also insures that the child always read the pages from left to right, and then follows the lines on each page from left to right.

By using your finger to follow print, your child will automatically see the reading of the left page first, the tracking of the lines of print, and see that each word on the page represents one word that you say. Concepts about Print #3 Focus: How to Hold a Book This week as you read your child’s library book together, “accidentally” hold the book upside down. Tell your child that there is something very confusing about this book, and see if your child can fix the “problem” for you. When they do, take a moment to talk to them about making sure they hold books so that the letters are right side up. The book doesn’t make any sense if we don’t start at the front. I’m sure this sounds very obvious to you, but to a child just learning the mechanisms of print, we need to insure that there are no gaps in their knowledge base. Concepts about Print #2 Focus: Find Upper and Lowercase Letters

As you read your child’s library book, find the letter that begins their first and last name. Ask your child to see if they can point to it on the page. Then you may want to ask if they can find: Þ Another letter in their name Þ Their favorite letter Þ The letter that your name begins with Þ An uppercase ___ Þ A lowercase ___

This is to reinforce the idea that the letters of the alphabet are used over and over and we use the letters in their name in other words. Concepts about Print #1

As you enjoy your kindergartner’s library book and other books this week, ask your child to point out to you a **letter** and then a **word**. How do they know that it is a word? (Because there are white spaces on either side of it, and in the word the letters are closer together). Have your kindergartner point out various letters (start with the ones in their name since these are the most familiar to them), then point out long words and short words. Emphasize that it doesn't matter how many letters it has, each one is still a word.

Concepts About Print Dear Parents, Each week as your child brings home a library book, they will also bring home an information sheet which will highlight a “Concept About Print”. These Concepts About Print are an important focus in our curriculum since research shows that the understanding of these concepts is fundamental to success as a reader. Please take the time to read, discuss, and practice the concepts outlined for you each week. This week, ask your child if they can show you the front and back of the book, and also ask “Where do we start to read?” This sounds obvious, but if these concepts about reading are confused and left unaddressed, the child is at a disadvantage when they try to read later on. Thank You, Mrs. Ozminkowski