Primary schools in Great Britain send home to parents a photocopy of
a page in Greek, Arabic or Old English to remind parents that the printed
word to a nonreader initially appears as a series of strange looking marks
and spikes.

We would do well to keep this in mind when we are trying to turn-on
the turned off reader. The act of reading requires intricate procedures
performed with both speed and a degree of accuracy.

The spikes and marks must first be turned into sounds using the code
we call an alphabet. These 26 symbols are wonderfully compact on the front
end yet allow for infinite combinations to express virtually any thought we
may imagine.

Thus writing is translated into words and words into meaning.
Children are geniuses at speaking and listening. The listening vocabulary for a
child far surpasses what he or she can actually read or write or often
even state. For example, a child hearing "McDonald's" or "Block Buster" will
make a dash for the family car even though he/she cannot write or
recognize the written form of either.

Children (and adults) hear and comprehend language on a much higher
level than we may say, read or write it. Listening comprehension comes
before reading comprehension and visual literacy comes before print
literacy.

All of that to say the following: First, picture books for your
young child are a first step to reading because the pictures offer clues to
the nonreader. Second, being read to is vital to a beginning reader because
hearing words in context helps to learn new words. Listening
comprehension precedes reading comprehension since we learn through our auditory
capacities. Finally, audio tapes are an enormous help to the beginning
reader because the child is able to hear it over and over. Repetition
is significant when words are heard in a meaningful way and used by people
around us who are important to us.

What can you give your child now? Three things: books with their
names on them; a reading lamp by their bed for sustained silent reading at
bedtime; an audio tapes filled with stories and song and poetry. Later
you may gift your child with a library card and certificates to Barnes &
Noble, WaldenBooks, Borders or Books-A-Million.

Finally, be certain your child sees you read. Each of these things
insures your child will become an avid reader and thus achieve greater
success in whatever he/she pursues in life.