Reading does not come naturally to every student. As with any skill, practice is crucial for success. Children who have more exposure to literacy and language will benefit based on their gained knowledge.
Do you want to enroll your child in preschool? Read on to find out how preschool could amplify your child’s ability to read and write at grade level.
Preschool Promotes Exposure to Literacy
Teachers must expose children to written language, and preschool provides the perfect opportunity. Children in preschool will see the written word posted throughout the classroom, building a sense of familiarity for students. Children will understand that letters and words send a message.
In preschool, children also learn about different literature. For instance, children learn about poetry and songs during their formative educational years.
Nursery rhymes are especially beneficial for children when they cannot read, especially because they often use familiar words and rhyming patterns to tell stories. Learning nursery rhymes may even benefit a child’s memory.
Preschool Emphasizes Story Time
Reading together is an important activity for children. Hearing a story promotes an understanding of story structure. Children who understand story structure can learn how to infer information with accuracy.
Reading aloud is one of the biggest benefits preschool can offer for children before they read. Not only do children develop an interest in literature and stories, but they also learn how to sit attentively and listen.
Story time also allows children to learn how to make predictions. Children often base predictions on previous occurrences in a story, so those with stronger comprehension skills are much more likely to make good predictions.
Preschool Teaches Literary Relationships
With the help of puzzles and age-appropriate reading material, preschool students understand the relationships between letters and the sounds they make. Additionally, students learn how to recognize different letters.
Puzzles that promote learning literary relationships include small puzzles with the names of animals, household items, and other everyday objects. Children will get used to identifying a specific word with a specific item.
Puzzles that involve letter shapes are helpful for the early stages of learning too. Children will learn the names of letters and get used to their shapes and correspondence with the rest of the alphabet.
Children in preschool can also learn how to write their own letters, with either writing utensils or art materials, like foam or pipe cleaners. Even though the child may not quite understand how to use a letter, they will know the name of the letter and learn how to identify it.
Preschool Develops Writing Skills
Although children in preschool may not write just yet, students learn how to dictate stories. They create stories on their own, showing creativity and understanding of story structure. A teacher can write their words to demonstrate the story writing process.
Dramatic play also contributes to a child’s ability to tell stories and communicate clearly. Children who put on plays or even play house tell stories.
Additionally, children learn writing skills by drawing pictures. For many children, drawing their families, daily activities, and favorite things offer the best way to communicate until they can learn how to write.
Preschool Lays the Foundation for Comprehension
Preschool exposes children to age-appropriate conversations geared toward their speech and comprehension levels. Through conversation in an educational setting, children learn additional vocabulary.
Children also learn by asking and answering questions. After story time, children can often answer questions based on the story they just heard. Engagement with the story encourages a better understanding.
Advantage Learning Center offers a structured learning opportunity for children before kindergarten. Are you interested in preschool for your child? Call us today to learn more about our opportunities.