Your Family Story
Prep:聽None | Activity Time: 15 Minutes
Get the whole family together to create and write a family story. As you write, you鈥檒l help your preschooler understand important concepts about letters and print. For example, she鈥檒l begin to understand that print is spoken words that are written down and that print carries meaning. When a child understands what print is, she鈥檚 more likely to have strong word recognition skills as she learns how to read.
- Large piece of chart paper or poster聽
- 惭补谤办别谤听
笔谤别辫补谤补迟颈辞苍听
Step 1:聽Gather the family together after an activity like a trip to the beach, a visit to Grandma鈥檚 house or a family vacation. Tell them that you鈥檙e going to work together to create a story about the event.鈥
Step 2:聽Ask each person to describe his favorite part of the event.鈥
Step 3:聽On the chart paper or poster, write down what each person says, one line per person. For example, you might write:鈥
Daddy says, 鈥淚 liked swimming in the ocean."
Sammy says, 鈥淚 liked building a sandcastle.鈥澛
Step 4:聽Re-read the story, pointing to each word as you go along. 鈥
Step 5:聽Point out the names of family members that you have written down, paying special attention to the beginning letter. See if your preschooler can find her name in the story.鈥
Step 6:聽Post the story on your refrigerator, door or wall so that your child can come back and read it later.聽
Include photos or鈥痙rawings in the story.鈥
Ask your child specific questions about the story. 鈥疐or example:聽
"Can you show me where your name is written?" Point to the letter ___. "I鈥檓 going to circle a letter with my highlighter. Can you tell me what the letter is?"