If you are a language mentor (parent, tutor, or other educator), consider embracing each of these components while you create new lessons.

1) MINDFUL LISTENING

• Articulate individual speech sounds
• Blend syllables and words (see video bar)
• Hear rhyme

2) PRINT CONCEPTS

• Memorize graphemes (alphabet letter shapes/names)
• Spell-out phonemes..................................................ENCODE
• Read from left-to-right.............................................DECODE
• Know the purpose of print, author/illustrator, book parts

3) R-EA-D-I-NG   R-EA-D-I-N-E-SS

• Systematically focus on exact vocabulary-to-be-read
• Identify syllables, roots, affixes, tense changes, etc.

4) FLUENCY and COMPREHENSION

• Read the language as comfortably as you speak it
• Learn word-meanings purposefully in "context"
• Grapple with the author's message
  
• Visualize, predict, make connections, clarify, summarize, etc.

5) SHARED INQUIRY

• Think critically and hone your questions
• Engage others in debate

Consider your current teaching methods:

Differentiate between AUDITORY focus and VISUAL focus