Reading tips from a literacy teacher

The reading room.

Short, practical notes from Donna Vona, M.Ed., a veteran literacy intervention teacher, on the questions parents of early readers ask most. The short answer first, then the details.

A quiet reading corner: a cream armchair with a navy throw and an orange cushion beside a low shelf of board books seen edge-on

Written by: Donna Vona, M.Ed.
Topics: Readiness, age three, first books, letter sounds
Each post: The short answer first, about 5 minutes

A mother and her preschooler laugh in a cream reading chair as the child points at a big letter S on a cereal box

ReadinessStart here

Is my child ready to read? Seven signs a teacher looks for

Seven signs a literacy teacher looks for before a child starts reading, and what each one looks like at your kitchen table.

October 8, 20265 min readRead the post

Notes for the early years.

Each one starts with the short answer, then shows you what it looks like at home.

Age threeWhat 'reading' actually looks like at three (and why it counts)Pointing, picture reading, retelling and reciting a favorite line are all real early reading, and here is why they matter.October 8, 20265 min read

First booksWhat makes a good first book for a two- or three-year-oldBig pictures, the same words again and again, pages that survive a toddler, and how to read a first book together.October 8, 20265 min read

Letter soundsFive minutes of letter sounds a day: a teacher's simple routine for preschoolersA five-minute daily routine for teaching letter sounds at home, starting with the five short vowels.October 8, 20265 min read

Give them their first "I read it!" moment.

Jack is waiting to be their very first book, and their absolute favorite.

Get Jack for your little reader By Donna and Elena Vona. Illustrated by Robyn Trimboli-Russo.