Communication Skills

8.2.5.Reading readiness skills

Introduction

Reading readiness skills need to be taught in a context which gives the expectation that reading is for meaning. The learners need to hear stories read aloud and observe that reading and writing are useful and meaningful

Reading readiness skills help prepare learners for the task of reading. The particular skills they need to learn will depend on their previous experience with and exposure to reading

Definition

Reading readiness skills are those abilities necessary for a person to begin the process of learning to read.

Examples

Here are some examples of reading readiness skills:

• Aural phonemic awareness
• Teaching someone to handle a book correctly
• Using a pencil correctly
• Understanding and interpreting illustrations
• Discerning shapes
• Understanding the alphabetic principle
• Understanding some concepts and conventions of print