6 By 6: Ready to Read!

6 By 6 is a literacy program that is promoted through the Johnson County Libraries. I was given some information regarding 6 By 6 at a story time that I took my 2 year old to. These 6 pre-reading skills to develop by six years encourage early literacy, enhance a reader's enjoyment of a story, and deepen vocabulary for the reader. The 6 skills are print motivation, print awareness, vocabulary, narrative, letter knowledge, and phonological awareness. Below is a further description of each skill that will help your child develop these skills.

1. Have fun with books. If a child is interested in a book, they will naturally want to read it! Pick books that would be interesting to the age of your child, and make sure their experience with books is a positive one!

2. Notice Print All Around You. Children need many experiences handling books in their everyday world to understand that print is used in multiple ways for a variety of purposes. This includes knowledge about how a book works.

3. Talk, Talk, Talk. A larger vocabulary results in better language and comprehension skills.

4. Tell Stories About Everything. Encourage children to tell stories from the pictures. The ability to predict stories is based on experience and is an important part of being a good reader.

5. Look for Letters Everywhere. Help children become familiar with the alphabet in fun ways, through puzzles, sorting games, and matching games. Talk about letters and letter sounds in objects and words that your children know.

6. Take Time to Rhyme, Sing and Play Word Games. Rhyming games, silly songs and tongue twisters provide beneficial fun. Being able to hear the beginning and ending sounds that make up words will help children sound out words when they begin to read.