Want to help your pre-reader get ready to read? Try this Christmas concepts of print activity!
I’ve started creating voice to print packs to help my Three learn the concept of word. This is an important understanding that children need before they can learn to sound out words. I put dots under each word so my son can point to each one as he “reads.”
And yes, I realize that three of the four sentences are not true sentences. But since this activity is intended to teach children about the act of reading (including the recognition of capital letters and end punctuation), and not the definition of a complete sentence, it’s A-okay.
He lovs his transportation concepts of print pack (you can see his hand on it in the above picture), so we pulled that out for some review. He did wonderfully, so I felt confident we could try a new one: my Christmas voice to print pack.
I pulled it out and began to show him the pattern. Here’s how it goes:
- Heart.
- A heart.
- A red heart.
- It is a red heart.
“It” and “is” are new words for him. Because they are very similar to each other, he was quickly frustrated and not excited to do the activity.
He worked through a few cards in the pack, and then he was done. It was clear that this was an activity for another day. (Please excuse the blue fingers, ha! A certain little boy had been playing with blue food coloring. Without permission.)
About a week later, I pulled out the pack once more. Again, I met with some resistance. But I insisted that we would give it a try this time.
He felt strongly that he did not want to do the entire pack, so I pulled out some cards and placed them on the table. After a little trouble with “it is,” he caught on quickly.
When we began doing these a month or more ago, he really struggled to say one word for each dot. But he’s got it down now! So exciting! He’s so proud of himself when he breezes through these cards.
I started mixing up the cards so that he didn’t have a familiar pattern to follow as he read. He still did great!
And just to clarify:
Beyond “I,” “a,” “see,” and his name, my son does not read any words.
“I can read these cards, but I can’t read books,” he told me. He knows the difference – but even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter. The important thing is that he is learning pre-reading concepts (that each word he says matches a word on the page) and gaining confidence. And these two things are a big deal!
He also had no problem with the cards rearranged this way.
After such success, I really wanted him to attempt the whole ring (which includes forty cards total). But he resisted, and when my One started bringing me play food to eat, we abandoned our pre-reading lesson for some restaurant play.
Because when it comes to teaching preschoolers to read, rule number one is “Don’t push.”
Enjoy this set of voice to print cards, and subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss the next set!
Get your free voice to print pack!
BUILD CONCEPTS OF PRINT WITH THIS POPULAR PACK
Nursery Rhyme Concepts of Print Pack – Set 1
$15.00
Since children love nursery rhymes, these classic poems are the perfect text for teaching concepts of print. This file contains 280 pages of printable activities featuring ten different nursery rhymes. The file includes instructions for how to teach concept of word, voice to print matching, and more.
Free Alphabet Printables
Join our email list and get this free sample of alphabet activities from our membership site! Students will practice identifying and forming letters, matching upper to lowercase, and identifying beginning sounds.
Chris Maloney
Thank you!
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Chris!
Nicole Maddox
Hi Anna! Where did you get your pretend food in your last picture?
P.s. I went to college with you. My sister, Kari, was in your class. Your husband will forever be known as, “Tutor” to me. I really enjoy your blog and gain a lot from it! Thank you for your hard work!
Anna G
Hi Nicole! Thanks for introducing yourself! College feels a long time ago! Our play food is mostly from Learning Resources, although I know they’ve discontinued some of the sets we purchased.
Vasiti Gina
Thank you Anna for the wonderful , easy and fun way to introduce reading. It is of great help. Happy holidays!
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Vasiti!
Charlbert Robinson
Thank you for the many varied activities that you have made available, I love your work and I am sure that my little ones will too…………………thank you so much.
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Anne
Hi Anna,
I am a special ed teacher and I love all your ideas and materials! You are so creative!
I just discovered your sight word worksheets. My students can complete them independently and they are soooo proud! 🙂 Any chance you will be adding more words?
Thanks so much!
Anna Geiger
Hello, Anne! I think in the future I will create those for other word lists, but I don’t expect it soon. Maybe before the school year is out?
Peggy
Hi Anna, I am so impressed by you! Here you are ready to deliver your next angel, yet have the time to help us struggling educators with your awesome tools!
Happy Holidays to you and your family and thank you for all you do!
Peggy
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Peggy! I know things are going to slow way down very soon, so I’m getting as much done as I can in the meantime. 🙂
Julia
Once my son and I were talking about a book we read earlier in the day. I asked him “What was that new word we read in the library book?”
He replied, ” you know I can’t say extraordinary.”
Extraordinary was the new word. He had not realized he had learned it.
Anna Geiger
Love that story! Isn’t it amazing what kids can learn when we give them a chance? Books are great teachers!