Episode #3: 10 Ways to Teach Concepts of Print

The Whole Mama - A Podcast with Jenna Gibbons

Does your child know how to hold a book, turn the pages, point to words and pictures, or point to the front cover, back cover, spine, and title page of a book?
“Concepts of print are a great predictor in a child's future success as a reader. Concepts of print influence a child's fluency and accuracy as a reader later in life.”
Concepts of print is the understanding that books contain letters, words, and pictures and that print has meaning. It also includes the understanding of how a book works and is really a child’s first interaction with literacy. Children need to understand the parts of a book, the concept of reading from left to right, differentiate between words and pictures, and between letters and words.
This understanding of how print works can easily be taught as you read together each day. While read a story, parents can point out letters, words, and other concepts of print just through the conversation about the story.
In terms of parts of a book, parents can easily start talking about the front cover, back cover, spine, title page, author/illustrator, and more. Parents can informally show children how to hold a book, how to read from left to right and top to bottom, how to turn a page, and more.
How You Can Teach at Home:

1. Read Aloud and point out the features of the book
2. Cut apart child’s name and ask them to put the letters back together to form his/her name
3. Help your child understand that print is everywhere!
4. Write together – thank you notes, birthday cards, grocery lists
5. Ask your child to draw a picture that tells a story and then dictate (write what your child says) the words that tell about the story and write on their page.
6. Model reading different kinds of text: books, newspapers, articles, magazines, mail, bills, e-mail, etc.
7. Letter, Word, Sentence Sorts
8. Pocket Chart
9. Nursery Rhymes
10. Cut Apart Sentences
Coming Up at The Whole Mama:
Thank you for you supporting the show through "Buy Me a Coffee" (link below)
Raising Whole Readers Course Opening Up Again in June
https://wondrous-author-5392.ck.page/products/raising-whole-readers-online-course?fbclid=IwAR2xkCzCLaSjRT6gIic_oD_UfzXrbJyj5U0KqvAhEq0mYxKdyCoevioIz3E

• Prep our Prek – 2nd graders (older struggling re

Support the show

Resources at The Whole Mama:

• Join the email list and grab your copy of my FREE Homeschool Like a Pro PDF HERE
• Join the email list and grab your copy of my FREE Whole Mama Survival Guide HERE
• Join our Whole Mamas Facebook Group of 500+ mamas HERE
• Follow me on Insta HERE
• Raise a "whole reader" through my online course HERE

Our goal this year at The Whole Mama is to help 100 mamas start homeschooling in 2024!
Will you join our movement of mamas ready to make powerful and positive changes for their children?

Support the show