One mum's perspective on accelerating reading ability

Being able to read early means that you can access more information in the real world - earlier.  The unknown becomes known.  You can see and read words on pictures, signs and toys etc, so understanding the world becomes demystified earlier!  That's the joy!  And the more words you hear, see and understand, the less frustrating the world becomes.

Read to your baby when it is born

Your baby hears your voice during pregnancy.  When baby is born, read to your baby and over time they will respond to your expression and enjoyment of reading.

Surround them with cloth books

As part of play and exploring, leave out a range of cloth books for baby to pick up and engage with.  Curiosity will mean that they start turning the pages, hold them and interact with the pictures and how the book feels.  You can encourage them to hold the book and turn the pages in order.  Make it easy for them choose to look at a book independently and with you.

Start teaching your baby letter sounds using your mouth to make letter shapes and sounds

From 6 months, start teaching your baby letter sounds.  Face-to-face learning - using your mouth to over emphasise the letter sounds and shapes.  If you make it a routine, baby will start to copy you.

Make reading have meaning

Babies love cause and effect!  Pull open a flap, slide and see, press a sound, follow a finger trail and more!  Books for babies are designed for interaction with the pages.  This helps with understanding that books, words and stories have meaning, things happen and there is great enjoyment to be had by engaging with them.

Around 17 months

Around 17 months, your baby will be able to put sounds together to make simple words, if you have been teaching them letter sounds as a baby.  At this stage, introduce the written letters and start putting together 'consonant, vowel, consonant' (CVC) words - c a t, r a t, s a t.

Follow a phonics programme e.g. Jolly Phonics.  There are lots! https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/choosing-a-phonics-teaching-programme/list-of-phonics-teaching-programmes

Start teaching letter sounds and letter names together

English words are spelt in letter sounds and letter names; learning phonic combinations is complex.  So, if your baby can recognise both sound and name, spelling tricky words makes more sense later on.  If you are following a phonic scheme, you will know your digraphs from your trigraphs and you will be proficient in phonic sounds.

Read to your toddler - each and every day at least three stories
When you read with your toddler, point to the words, letter sounds and letter names.  Read slowly.  Over emphasise everything.  Show them the shape of your mouth and how the sounds come out.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Model reading at every opportunity.

Start a reading scheme around 17 months

Use small toddler size books that are easy to handle.  Practice the routine of sitting and concentrating on reading the book.  Even is the toddler is passively listening, keep reading and role model what happens.  After a few sessions, they will understand what to do when you are reading (sit with you and look at the book).

If you have read regularly with your baby from 6 months old, they will already be able to sit looking at books independently.

Once you have their routine and full attention, point to the simple words on the page and read them.  Encourage them to look, sound and read the words on the page.  If they have been learning the letter sounds and names, put these together with written words.  Using a reading scheme (first levels) will give you the opportunity to focus on the simple CVC words.

Mix up your stories

Read one reading scheme book per day, and two other stories (at least).  Put the reading scheme books in a box where your toddler can reach them and take them out to read as part of their play.

Around 2.5 years old

If you have been teaching to a phonics programme and reading a scheme of books with your child, around 2.5 years old they will be reading CVC words, common words and a range of tricky words.  They will be able to read simple words in the real world.

Label everything!

Put labels in lower case on everything - the television, fridge, doors, boxes, everyday objects.  Label your entire house!

Use something and point to the label.  Read the label before you use the object. Play 'find me' activities around the house.

Around 3 years of age, you could have a child who is confidently reading CVC words, common words and tricky words.  Through reading the reading scheme, they could achieve 3 levels of progress during the year before starting school.

Make all of your play involve the written word alongside objects and actions.

Reading scheme

A child in Reception at 4-5 years old may achieve reading at Oxford Reading Tree Level 3 by the end of the year (National average).  This is an average of 3 levels of progress in the year.  A child who has achieved reading at level 3 before they enter Reception would be at a significant advantage in understanding the world and could reach level 6 by the time they end their year in Reception.

Reading scheme - progress

If your child has achieved level 3 before starting school and you continue reading with your child through Reception using the phonic scheme and a reading scheme, and may see above 3 levels of reading within the year, their Year 1 learning could be accelerated by 4 levels of progress.  This significantly speeds up their understanding of the world.   By the end of Year 1, they could be reading over 2 years ahead of their age.

What educationalists know

Hearing language, reading and writing are linked.  The more you can hear and read, the more you can spell, the bigger the vocabulary you have and the more you can say, read and write independently. 

The risks and commitment

Average progress is the norm.  Accelerated progress means the child needs constant stimulation and more reading materials to keep pace with their ability.  Reading materials need to be selected to meet the reading ability, but with age appropriate content.  It takes an hour to read a 40 page chapter book (with discussion) at 5 years old.  So, you need dedicated time each day to read with your child.

Other parents and children may judge you and your child because your child will be assessed as above average.  Your child will know things that other children don't know.  

Try it and see! Abi x

*We developed Baby Storytime sessions to support children to gain access to early reading skills.