Primary School Prep DIY Guide-Reading-Page 6

SINGLE WORDS

 

Quizzing  

Please avoid testing your child. If you are showing them the words and they are seeing the words and hearing the words written on the page, then their brain in taking it in.  They can’t always show you that they know the words and you should not test them just so you can satisfy yourself that they know the words. It is not going to be helpful and could discourage you more, because quite often a child will know the words but cannot necessarily communicate that they know it through the testing method that you are using. So, you may have been showing them a flash card for four months and then you test them to find out if they know it and you are then disappointed when they don’t, and you think that is because they don’t know it. This is not necessarily true, every child is different. Knowing something and being able to communicate that they know it are two different things. They may know something but may not be able to communicate that they know it for some time after. Also, testing may upset some children.

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However, it doesn’t mean that you cannot give your child the opportunity to show what he or she knows in a fun and no pressured way.

We advise that you show your child flash cards for at least six months before giving them an opportunity to show what they know.

This is not a hard and fast rule, you could try after four months, especially if your child started when they are older. Or you may find that even without giving them an opportunity to see what they know, you hold the flash card up one time and your child says the words before you do. By the way, we cannot express the joy you will feel when that happens.  

 

Assuming you do decide to give them an opportunity to show what they know, and that you started showing your child flash cards at six months, then you may decide to give them an opportunity to show what they know at 12 months.  

 

What you would do, is go back to the flash cards that you have shown the most. Lay 3 out on the floor/ table, for example:  ‘apple’, ‘orange’, ‘banana’. Then call your child over and ask him or her in an animated, excited and smiling voice. “Where is the word ’apple’? Point to the word, ’apple’ for me please.” Obviously at 12 months, your child won’t be able to talk so they can only communicate what he or she knows by pointing. If your child is two years old, you may ask them to pick it up rather than point to it as they will be walking by then. So, assuming your child is 12 months and they point to the word, “’apple’, no doubt you will be excited that they got it and you celebrate them. However, if they point to the word, ’orange’ instead, you still in a very excited voice say “Ooo, good try. That is orange. This is the word, ‘apple’.” Then you point to the word, ‘apple’. Then you hug them and celebrate them irrespective. When you do it in this way it adds to the learning of the child and doesn’t take away from it. Now keep these sessions very short; maybe one or two opportunities to see what they know and that is it. If they get it wrong, there is an opportunity for you to get discouraged. Don’t get discouraged keep on going be persistent. Your child will get there.  

 

In terms of how often you give your child the opportunity to see what they know after an initial six months of just normal sessions, you could for example, do it on a monthly basis. This is a guide but please don’t do it too often.