Personalised Reading Programs
During typical development children learn the skills they need to read at certain ages and stages. In the early years, they begin to establish language and pre-reading skills which act as a foundation and support later reading development. Once they enter school reading instruction becomes more direct and explicit, drawing children's attention to how letters and sounds come together to make words and developing an understanding of what they have read.
Strong literacy skills in the primary years are associated with greater academic success both in the short and long-term. Children who are behind in reading in the early primary years have only a 20% chance of catching up to their peers, are at greater risk of school drop out, and are more likely to have limited economic success. That's why it is critical to get young children off on the right start.
If you are a family with a child who is struggling with reading you are not alone. According to a recent national report by the Grattan Institute one third of Australian children are not mastering age appropriate reading skills. Providing children the personalised support they need can make a big difference to helping them achieve reading success.
Pre-literacy (2-3yrs)
During the toddlers years children's vocabularies are growing exponentially. They are also starting to put words together to form short sentences. Children at this age should show interest in books, can respond to simple questions or commands during reading aloud, and begin engaging with nursery rhymes and songs.
Early Literacy (3-4yrs)
In the preschool years children's phonological awareness skills develop. They begin to learn how to manipulate words and sounds. They also understand print has a message and can use books to strengthen their growing vocabulary skills. At this age children should know how to handle books properly and can use them as part of back and forth dialogue with and adult.
Learning To Read (4-5yrs)
By the time children are ready to enter school they have typically developed all the skills they need to learn to formally read. They can recognise letters and begin to know their associated sounds. Phonemic awareness skills allow them to play with individual sounds which they can blend together to make words. They can also identify different parts of a book, like titles, beginnings and endings.
School Age Reading (6+ yrs)
As children go through the primary years their reading skills build off the strong foundation that was laid in the earlier years. Phonological and phonemic awareness skills continue to grow, vocabulary flourishes with new experiences supporting reading comprehension, grammar skills develop, and reading fluency improves steadily and consistently. During the next several years, books and reading become a more regular part of daily academic life.