Beginning Reading: What Does It Sound Like?

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As a parent of a beginning reader, it is so important to support your child's first steps! Children need positive role models and assistance along the reading path.  

A beginning reader:

  • is able to name the letters of the alphabet and can tell many of the letter sounds
  • is able to distinguish between letters and numbers
  • attempts to write his/her first name with squiggles or letters
  • enjoys being read to and can retell simple stories 
  • is able to sing simple songs or recite nursery rhymes

BUT HOLD ON!!!  

Before children learn to read words, they need to become aware of environmental sounds and words in sentences. This prepares students to pay attention to sounds within words. The ability to hear sounds is important for learning to listen for letter sounds and to write words later on. 



Ways you can help:

  1. Have your child close his/her eyes to listen and think about the sounds they hear in your house or outside. Ask, "What did you hear?  Where do you think it came from?". Ask, "How many times did you hear the door open?"
  2. Make several animal sounds (moo, oink, meow, woof, quack).  Ask "What did you hear?" Ask, "Were the sounds the same or different?", "Can you make the sounds?". "How many times did you hear me say Moo?"
  3. Ask your child to use an instrument to repeat three sounds heard in order.  
  4. Ask your child to show one block or counter for each sound heard.
  5. Clap a pattern and have your child repeat it for you. (clap, clap, clap clap, clap)

Listening for environmental sounds prepares your child for phonological awareness--being able to identify rhyming words, count words in a sentence, count syllables in a word, blend sounds to form words, and tell sounds in words. 

Remember to be patient!  Young children require lots of modeling how to listen before they can learn to sound out and read words. 

The next step:  Listening to and counting words in a sentence!


Mrs. Lang


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