1. Welcome Kindergarten Parents How to get your child ready to read

2. Building a good foundation  Learn the alphabet  Understand letters and words have meaning  Build a vocabulary  Connect drawing and writing to reading  Listen to many books

3. Talk and Listen to your child  Talk with your child  Use photo albums or magazines to start a conversation  Visit interesting places  Talk about everyday things

4. Fall in love with language  Label objects in your home  Teach your child nursery rhymes and songs  Play with words  Look for letters of the alphabet everywhere!

5. Develop vocabulary and concepts  Have child describe pictures in books  Use “big” words  Play “I spy” and other word games  Make connections with words and concepts

6. Show how print has meaning  Show your child how print helps us everyday  Point out environmental print  Point to and read words on a grocery list or restaurant menu, etc.

7. Connect drawing, reading and writing  Encourage your child to draw pictures  Show your child how to write their name  Have your child dictate a note to a relative or friend

8. Laugh!! oRemember to have fun with your child. Appreciate your child’s special joy for learning new things.

9. READ! READ! READ!  READ – to expand their vocabulary  READ – to appreciate the value of books and reading  READ – to understand new ideas and concepts  READ – to learn about the world around them