How to Build 
Most children need help to build their reading ability.
A great Reading Treehouse begins with a good, strong Language Tree
- Its trunk and branches support and frame the Treehouse.
- Its leaves are the shelter overhead.
The Language Tree grows strong as we talk, discuss,
explain, and read to children over the years.
It is never too early or too late to nurture the child’s Langauge Tree.
A solid Treehouse needs a solid Floor.
Check out The Floor section here at The Reading Treehouse.
- Phonemic Awareness games teach the ‘Mind’s Ear’ skills that build the sound foundation for The Reading Treehouse.
- Never rush through Phonemic Awareness to get to the ‘real reading,’ because the strength of this Floor will make or break the whole Treehouse.
Build the Treehouse Walls out of alphabet letters and whole words.
Check out the Phonic Walls and Word Walls sections of the Reading Treehouse.
Teach Phonics, and practice Rapid-Accurate Naming of the letter-sounds.
Practice Rapid-Accurate Naming of common, whole words, too.
Keep connecting the Walls--the Phonics and the Whole Words--to the trunk and branches of the Language Tree.
Don’t just work your way down some word lists!
Language is what ties it all together and makes it work.
Do be sure that your Phonics program includes some little books or stories for practicing the Phonics piece your student is learning.
And make some reading materials out of the child’s own language. For example
- Ask your child to tell you about her picture, and then write down what she says.
◦ (Put it into simple, short sentence form.)
◦ Then, select words for Rapid-Accurate Naming practice from the sentence.
Short Cut Through the Treehouse ~ The Whole Treehouse
More on this topic: Experience Learning to Read Again
Next topic: A Sound Floor: It All Begins With Sound
(Phonemic Awareness)
