Reading Books
Aims
This activity is designed to:
- introduce your child to new vocabulary and sight words
- teach your child the meaning of simple sentences
- encourage your child to repeat spoken sentences
- encourage your child to think and to talk about the things presented in books
- encourage your child to link things presented in books to things they see in everyday life
- encourage your child to pay attention and join in a learning activity for short periods of time
When to start
Children can start the Reading Books activity when they:
- understand at least 150 words, including some nouns, verbs and adjectives
- can say or sign at least 60 of the words that they understand
- use some two keyword phrases when they are communicating
Choosing books
The books in See and Learn Sentences 1 should be taught in the order indicated as later books build on previously taught vocabulary, sight words and grammar rules.
Start with book 1 -- "Outside".
Teaching vocabulary and grammar
Please refer to the guidance earlier in this guide on ways you can engage your child in book reading and how you can teach new vocabulary and grammar.
Goals, guidance and extension activities
Specific guidance for each book is provided on the back cover.
In the apps, this guidance can be accessed by tapping the "i" information icon on the book cover in the book selection screen.
Instructions
| 1 | Show your child the book | |
[Books]: Select the book you wish to work with. ::: card-example
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[Apps]: From the Main Menu screen, select Activities > Reading Books and select the book to read. ::: app-example
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| 2 | Attract your child's attention Say "let's read a book". Encourage your child to look at the book, starting with the cover. |
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| 3 | Look at the cover picture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Point to the picture on the cover. Say the title of the book -- for example, "Outside" Introduce the theme of the book -- for example, "This book is about things we see outside." Move to the next page. ([Apps]: Tap the arrow to move to the next page.) Prompt your child to turn the page or tap the button to involve them in the activity. |
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| 4 | Look at the picture and read the sentence(s) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Point to the picture on the page. | |
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Let your child look at the picture. Say the sentence -- for example, "This is the sun." Pause briefly, then repeat the sentence and point to each of the written words as you say them. Encourage your child to repeat the sentence. |
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| 5 | Look at the next page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Point to the next page (turn the page as necessary). ([Apps]: Tap the arrow to 'turn the page'.) You can ask your child to turn the page or tap the button as needed. |
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| 6 | Repeat steps 4 and 5 Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have completed the book. |
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App settings
The apps include the following settings that control how the activity is presented:
- Enable spoken prompts -- When enabled, a recording of sentences on a page is played when the page is tapped. We recommend that you read the book at first, and consider turning this option on when your child has begun to learn to read the book. Encourage your child to read aloud rather than just listen to the recordings.
- Enable rewards -- When enabled, the sounds of applause can be played at the end of the activity by tapping the check mark.
