Parents are often advised to “Read, read, read” to their children.  Do you know why?  Research has found that:

1. Speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills develop simultaneously from the ages of 2-3.
2. Reading volume is the primary indicator of individual differences in children’s vocabulary.  The size of a child’s vocabulary is one of the best predictors of reading comprehension.
3. Children’s books have 50% more “rare” words than prime time television and the conversation of a college graduate.
4. The “language of stories” develops discourse and narrative skills.  Narrative skills (the ability to retell stories and relate events) are correlated with reading success.

Most speech and language goals can be facilitated through literacy activities.   Hearing stories read aloud helps children develop language circuits for auditory skills, speech sound production, speaking rate, inflection, rhyme, sound associations, vocabulary, grammar, and more.  It exposes children to the “concepts of print” necessary for successful, independent reading including: page turning, identifying the front/beginning and back/end of the book, recognizing the words “title, author, illustrator,” reading from left to right, and discriminating letters, words, and sentences.

Over the next several weeks, your child will be bringing home one of “Becker’s Book Bags” – literacy units that will be created for your use throughout the school year.  Please keep the bag in a safe place.  The book and related activities are intended for shared reading and interaction.  You may use the bag for up to one week.  Make a note of your observations and experiences in the “Reading Journal” that is provided in the bag.  Most importantly, have fun!

Sincerely,

Patty Becker
Speech Language Pathologist