Early education instructors frequently use what is called a guided reading curriculum to help develop a child’s basic reading skills and teach them reading techniques.  Each level of this program has a set of books which are designed to impart specific skills, based on the child’s age and abilities.  Parents can get a comprehensive list of these books from the teacher, so that they can work with their child outside the classroom.

Program for Kindergarteners

Success in reading begins at an early age, and many of the necessary skills are a part of the guided reading curriculum used with kindergarteners.  The children are taught basic reading skills, which can be built upon as they become ready to learn more advances skills and techniques.  The books used in this type of program are made up of short sentences, often composed of just two or three words.  Thinking back to your own childhood, you may remember sentences or stories such as “See Spot Run.”  Even though these classic titles are old, they are still popular favorites in kindergarten classrooms.

One important skill that is taught during the kindergarten guided reading curriculum is the different sounds of letters.  Learning the sounds that vowels and consonants make, as well as the combinations when they are put together, helps the child sound out new words that they encounter.  By learning these types of skills during kindergarten, the children can become successful readers later in life.Being taught effective reading skills during kindergarten can have a direct impact upon their reading and study skills later in life.

Program for First Graders

As the child advances from kindergarten to first grade, the reading program that they follow will likewise become more advanced.  Instead of focusing on simple sounds and individual words, students begin to identify nouns and verbs and see words in larger groups.  The skills that the child has already acquired are developed as they read more complicated books.  The selection of books have more complex stories, as the children are becoming better able to understand plots and character interactions.

Program for Second Graders

Reading comprehension improves dramatically as students move into the second grade.  These young readers will follow a guided reading curriculum that reflects that advancement.  Students begin to answer questions about the protagonist and antagonist of their stories, which are progressing towards short chapter books.  The children are not only more capable of understanding complex stories.  They are also better at retaining the information after they leave the classroom, so parents can engage them at home about what they read at school.

Parents who take an active role in the guided reading curriculum will not only be spending more time bonding with their child, they will be helping to improve their reading comprehension.  Contact your child’s teacher to get a comprehensive list of the books available for their level.  The time spent reading together will create beautiful memories for both of you.

Tags: early reading skills, guided reading curriculum, Kindergarten