Steps to Reading Preparatory Curriculum

Ages 2-3 I will begin the Brightly Beaming Steps to Reading Preparatory Curriculum. This curriculum teaches the child to recognize letters, numbers, colors and shapes. The lessons include a weekly theme and other activities that teach basic concepts. The curriculum lasts approximately 26 weeks.

As your child progresses through the lessons, they complete a learning poster each week. I'll use a magnet board so we don't go through 26 different poster boards. Create a space on the board for the weekly theme, vocab word, shape/color, letter, number, and nursery rhyme. By keeping this poster in a highly visible place, your child will be reminded often of the concepts they are learning. By the end of the first week you will have a full board. On the following week change the pictures for the weekly theme and vocab word on Monday, color in the shape on Tuesday, change the letter on Wednesday, change the number on Thursday, and replace the nursery rhyme on Friday. Each concept is shown on the board for a full week, only changing as you introduce a new concept.

Here is an example of the first week of the program: Lesson 1 week theme is Cows.

On Monday you talk all about cows! You learn the vocab word- calf. Check out lots of books from the library about cows! Read poems and sing songs (all provided in the lesson plan) about cows! For a gross motor skills activity, put on some music and move around your home like a cow, don't forget to make sound effects! Put a picture of a cow and the vocab word up on the learning poster.

Tuesday is the shape/color day. This week you teach square (Next week you'll teach the color green, and color in the square with that color. And so on, you rotate shape to color from week to week). Collect 3-5 everyday objects in the shape of a square to share with your child and discuss. Walk through your home looking for squares. Cut squares out of play-doh or cookie dough! Put a drawing of your square on your learning poster.

Wednesday is letter day. This week is the letter A. Give your child a printout of the letter A to color. Teach your child to trace the letter A using their finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow cookie sheet filled with rice or beans, etc. Post the letter A on your learning poster.

Thursday is number day. This week is the number 1. Show your child one object to count, or eat (one cheerio, one cracker, etc.). Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 1 and put on your learning poster. Add one sticker to your counting book. Draw one square on a piece of paper and count it with your child. Walk around your home counting one of many different objects.

Friday is nursery rhyme day. This week the nursery rhyme is Hey Diddle Diddle. Recite often! Do a fine motor skills activity- build a cow with squares. You will need some black and white paper. Cut out one 4" square of white for the body, one 2" square of white for the head, about nine 1" squares of white to make the legs and tail, three or four 1" squares of black for the cow spots, and three or more 1/2" squares of black for the eyes, ears, etc. Help your child glue the cow together on another sheet of paper (of a different color).