Using this Where the Wild Things Are Worksheet, students describe the title, author, and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are.
Using Chrysanthemum Worksheet, students read Chrysanthemum and describe what she says and does when her school friends make fun of her adored name.
Using Characters, Settings, and Big Events Worksheet, students draw pictures and write a sentence for each to tell about the story elements in a book.
Using Dr. Seuss Picture Characters Matching Worksheet, students match the Dr. Seuss character pictures to the correct Dr Seuss story.
This 100th Day of School Party Worksheet is a great way to teach your kids about the author and illustrator of a book to celebrate the 100th day of school.
A sunny Picnic Day rebus worksheet that helps preschoolers read picture sentences, match pictures to words, and build early reading confidence. Answer key included.
This Details about Digging Up Dinosaurs Worksheet helps students identify the main idea and key details while reading a passage about dinosaurs.
Using Arthur's TV Trouble Worksheet,students retell the story by describing the story elements of any given story to build their reading comprehension.
Using Dr. Seuss Book Parts Worksheet, studentsidentify the front cover, back cover, and page of a book to gather information about what they will read.
Using Dr. Seuss Characters Matching Worksheet, students match the Dr. Seuss character pictures to the correct Dr Seuss story.
Using this Amelia Bedelia Author and Illustrator Worksheet, students describe the title, author, and illustrator of an Amelia Bedelia book.
Using this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Authors Worksheet, students describe what authors do to tell their story.
Letters, rhymes and first words
Preschool reading isn't about reading books alone yet. It's about building everything that comes first. Little ones learn the alphabet, letter names and sounds, and hear rhymes (cat, hat, bat!). They learn how books work: front to back, top to bottom, words go left to right. Many start recognizing a few sight words like I, the and look, and they retell stories in order: first, next, last. The click moment is a child pointing at a sign and shouting, "That's an S! Sss, like my name!"
Preschoolers learn to read through songs, stories and play. These are our everyday moves.
Start each day with one alphabet song video and pause on the letter of the day. Kids say its name, its sound and a word that starts with it. Daily repetition with music is how those 26 letters become friends.
Why it works: a catchy, repeating tune gives the brain a hook to hang words on, so sung text is remembered better (Wallace, 1994).
Try it withAlphabet Songs (Animated Video Collection)SongsOpen it →Play the Look Song, then hold up the word "look" on a card. Kids hunt for it in a big picture book during read-aloud and cheer each time they spot it. Hearing, seeing and finding the word builds real recognition.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withLook Song (Animated Music Video)VideosOpen it →After a story, give kids three picture cards to put in order: first, next, last. Then they retell the story using the cards. Sequencing builds comprehension long before kids can read the words.
Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.
Try it withSequence of Events ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Pre-readers learn fastest when it feels like a game.
ActivitiesKids match picture cards that rhyme, like cat and hat. Then make up a silly rhyme together.
Open Rhyming Words Matching Activity →
VideosPlay the Alphabet Animals Song and kids act out each animal as its letter appears.
Open Alphabet Animals Song (Animated Music Video) →
WorkbooksRead a short story for one letter, then kids find and circle that letter all over the page.
Open Alphabet Reading Comprehension Workbook →Teacher favorites right now: Where the Wild Things Are Worksheet, Chrysanthemum Worksheet and Characters The Giving Tree Worksheet.
Most preschoolers work on letter names and sounds, rhyming, how books work, and retelling simple stories. Some recognize a few sight words, but reading on their own usually comes later.
Many children learn to sing the alphabet around 3 and recognize most letters by 4 or 5. Every child is different, and lots of playful exposure matters more than a deadline.
Read aloud every day, sing alphabet songs, point to words as you read and play rhyming games. Talking a lot together builds the vocabulary readers need.
A few simple sight words like I, the and look can be fun and confidence-building. Keep it playful, and focus most on letters, sounds and rhyming.
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Printables, songs and games for every subject, Preschool through 6th. Ready to teach today, and kids beg for more.
