Steps to Developing Language Fluency in Young Children

Beginning blends are great ways for children to sound out words that are unfamiliar to them. Take the beginning blend “ST” for instance. If a child understands how to pronounce the words star and start, then unfamiliar words such as stand, stop, stamp and stall become easier to pronounce with practice. Over time children begin to decode words one at a time and can soon read a whole sentence. Encouraging your child to read a familiar text can also build fluency and comprehension. An excellent easy reader is the “Dick and Jane” titles. It allows children to sound out familiar three and four letter words in repetitive sentences thus giving them the self-confidence they need to master difficult pronunciations.

• Does Your Child have the Ability to Link Letters and Sounds Together?
• Is Your Child Familiar with Words that Form Opposites?
• Can Your Child Build New Words from a Single Core Word?
• Can Your Child Sound Out Rhyming Words?
• Has Your Child Learned about Compound Words?
• Can Your Child Build Words using Ending Clusters?
• Is Your Child Familiar with Beginning Blends?
• Have You Encouraged Independent Reading?
• Do You Read Books Yourself?