Author: Tammy Jones

4-Year-Olds Predictable Text

Is your four-year-old excited about reading? Is she beginning to point to words as you read together? This book’s simple, repetitive sentences will help your child build confidence in her beginning reading skills as she starts to recognize the familiar sentences on each page.

 

Before, During and After Reading

Letter Knowledge

Touch and read each word in the title of the story. Touch the exclamation point at the end of the title, and say:

This is an exclamation point. An exclamation point lets you know that your voice should sound excited. Can you read the words “I Go!” with excitement in your voice?

Use the instructions found on the inside cover of the book to help create a positive reading experience.

Phonological Awareness

Practice Onset and Rime. Here's how: Turn to page two and look at the pictures on the page. Tell your child you will say the words slowly and you want her to see if she can guess which picture you are trying to say.

You might say:

I’m going to say a word slowly. See if you can find the picture. (Pronounce the beginning sound of the word clearly, pause, and then say the rest of the word)

Listen: c…ar        c…ar      What’s the word? That’s right! car

Listen: tr…uck    tr…uck What’s the word? That’s right! truck

Listen: v…an       v…an     What’s the word? That’s right! van

Listen: b…us       b…us    What’s the word? That’s right! bus

 

Beginning Writing

Invite your child to create her own “I Go” book.  Staple a few pages together and invite your child to write the title “I Go!” on the front cover. Inside the book, write the words, “I go in a,” on each page. If your child would like to write the words, that’s great too. Ask your child to think about the vehicles, riding toys, or other forms of transportation that she has used to go somewhere, and then draw a picture for that page. Read the page together, pointing to each word and then the picture. Place the book in a special basket where you can create a collection of predictable books to read again.  

After you read, try these additional activities:

  • For practice tracking from left-to-right in a different and fun way, check out Stamp the Road.
  • To try more book-making ideas, make a book about your town with this activity, In My Town.
  • To help you set up an exciting writing area that supports creativity, see My Writing Area.

Explore more easy at-home activities designed to build pre-reading skills in your four-year-old, or or take the Reading BrightStart! Preschool Reading Screener. The screener can help you determine if your child is on the path to reading readiness, and provides a free plan for moving forward.