Stage 6     “I PRETEND to read”

• Encourage a child’s efforts to pick up a book and pretend to read
• The child will tell or read aloud favourite books, following pictures
  and turning the pages
• The child will make up parts and miss words – that is okay, don’t
  correct them

Stage 7    “I RECOGNIZE some words”

• Let the child say aloud the words she recognizes in the story
• Follow along under the print with the tip of your finger as you read
  aloud so the child understands how print works on the page – across
  the page from left to right and down the page from top to bottom

Stage 8     “I use PICTURES and PRINT”

• Talk to the child about the pictures and how they relate in the story
• Encourage the child to PREDICT the text and story from the pictures
  – what do you think happens next?
• Ask questions as you read together and have a conversation about
  the story

Stage 9    “I use SIGHT WORDS, PHONICS, and other ways to figure out the story”

• Encourage your child’s efforts to figure out the story and words using
  different strategies – context, pictures, recognizing words from
  memory, phonics
• Keep reading with child and let her join in as she can along the way
• Don’t expect the child to read the book on her own…she’ll build
  early reading skills as she’s ready from reading together with you