How I'm Teaching Colby To Read

I don't think it's important to teach a three year old how to read, but if a child is showing reading readiness then it's a window of opportunity to teach at a time that is most valuable to the individual child. 


I know Colby is ready to start the process of reading for many different reasons. I'm not sure what Colby's gift is....photographic memory, retains information well (I wish this applied to rules....I should only be so lucky) , or greatly benefited from learning sign language.


I never taught Colby letter sounds, he just learned them through everyday reading experiences which I believe is a benefit of signing....

The intellectual benefits of baby signing include:

1. Baby Sign Language increases the speed of the development of 
verbal language.

2. Baby signing increases vocabulary.

3. Baby signing reinforces the use of verbal language.

4. Baby Sign Language promotes language learning through concept.

5. Baby Signing reinforces a child’s communication attempts.

6. Baby Sign Language promotes early literacy.

7. Baby Sign Language increases interests in books.

8. Baby Signing promotes the early use of complex sentences. 

More Info here

Also, he just started recognizing words. When I pull up to a stop sign, Colby says, "S-T-O-P stop mommy" and tells me to G-O go when the light turns green. Those were just a few little readiness signs that Colby is showing, so reading here we come!

Some Reading Readiness signs…

• Your child pretends to read books
• Your child knows the sounds letters make {not just the names of the letters but the sounds they make {think: Leapfrog Letter Factory}
• Your child notices environmental print—signs, TV show names, street signs, store names, cereal boxes, etc.
• Your child knows where the words are on a page in a book
• Your child knows that we read from left to right and can imitate this action as you read.
• Your child can retell a story you read in his/her own words {showing the ability to comprehend and retell}
• Your child holds book the proper way {not upside down or sideways}
• Your child recognizes his/her own name and other familiar names or words {mom, dad, siblings, etc.}
• Your child shows an interest in writing and pretends to write {or is already writing letters}
• Your child understands rhyming words
• Your child understands beginning sounds {ask-what sound do you hear at the beginning of the word “cat”?}
• Your child is interested in learning to read!

TOT School

I'm using Whole Language Approach since it's the method I learned in college and what I used to teach my first graders....it's just what I know. WLA is a process in which language is viewed as an authentic, natural, real-world experience, and language learning is perceived as taking place through functional reading and writing situations.

More info here

Colby absolutely loves books so I just pick a book, read it over and over, and then do an activity with the book that will encourage reading!

The Napping House is one of Colby's all time favs...mine too!! 

You can print out all materials here!

Colby cut out all the characters and glued them on his paper in sequential order.....

Then we labeled each one......

next, we used play-dough mats to learn the word cat and dog.....

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~Charles W. Eliot

Until Next Time........