Head of the Class / READING TIPS AND NOTES
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Children learn about language not only by reading but also by speaking, listening and writing.
Each skill helps youngsters expand their emerging vocabularies and understand the world around them.
There are countless easy exercises that parents can perform with their children to build language skills. Here is a sampling from the U.S. Department of Education:
* When walking down the street and your toddler stops to collect leaves, ask questions that require more than yes/no answers. Which leaves are the same? Which are different? What else grows on trees?
* Ask your preschooler to dictate a story to you. It could include descriptions of your outings and activities, along with mementos such as fall leaves, birthday cards and photographs.
* Write a trip journal with your children to create a new family story. Record the day’s special event or paste a photograph into the journal. You can also include everyday trips such as going to the market or the park.
* When your children express a feeling or thought about a person, have them write a letter. Have the children dictate the words to you if they do not yet write.
* Send your children little notes--by putting them in a pocket or a lunch box. When your child shows you the note, read it aloud. Some children will read the note on their own.
* Respond to the content of your children’s writing, and do not be overly concerned with misspellings. Over time you can help your child concentrate on learning to spell.
* Encourage children to write stories. Ask questions that help organize the stories, and respond to questions about letters and spelling. Suggest that your children share the activity with a smaller brother, sister or friend.
* Explain the writing process to your children: “We think of ideas and put them into words. We put the words on paper. People read the words. People respond.”
BOOK EVENTS
Monday in Venice: Children’s librarian will read stories about snow and help children make paper snowflakes during preschool story time. Los Angeles Public Library, Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial branch, 501 S. Venice Blvd., 7 p.m., (310) 821-1769.
Wednesday in LaVerne: Sonia Levitin signs “The Singing Mountain,” Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Book Shop, 1030 Bonita Ave., 10 a.m. (909) 599-4558.
Wednesday in Echo Park: Children’s librarian will read wintertime stories by author Rosemary Wells. Los Angeles Public Library, Echo Park branch, 1410 W. Temple St., 3:30 p.m., (213) 250-7808.
Saturday in Pasadena: Jamie Lee Curtis signs “Today I Feel Silly,” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., noon. (800) 769-BOOK.
