Reading at the Heart of Learning at Learning Ladder Academy
One focus we have here at Learning Ladder Academy is boosting language development for all our students. This is done in a variety of ways, but the single best way, across all the ages we serve, is to sit with a child on your lap and read. Whether at school or at home, research shows us that reading to children, even after they have learned to read not only increases language development through learning new words but also allows children to listen to a story and use critical thinking skills to infer meanings or predict what may happen next.
With our younger students, you will often see us reading the same book repeatedly. In the Toddler Room, the teachers both read and sing Brown Bear, Brown Bear and it is a classroom favorite. Children take comfort in knowing what comes next, especially when so much of their day is out of their control. Staff can ask the children questions about this familiar book and the children start to consider answers. Aside from the storyline, they ask questions like, “What sound does a horse make?” So often, children at this age are willing to try to make animal sounds, and find they are successful, giving them a boost in confidence.
For our Preschoolers, language development looks more like learning letters and what they look and sound like as well as beginning to write as they get a little older. Parents can help children work on these skills by talking about letters and their sounds. When in the car, you could say, “Look at that huge truck! The word truck starts with the letter T. Do you know what sound the letter T makes?”
For young children, learning should be fun, and it makes learning more relatable when it’s about something they are interested in. When in the car, and everyone is a captive audience, instead of firing up a tablet, try talking with your preschooler, instead. Asking questions about their favorite things is a terrific way to engage them and get them thinking more critically!
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