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It provides practical questions and milestones for speech clarity, following multi-step directions, using varied complete sentences, storytelling, and early letter and sound 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Track for Learning to Read?  \nWhat to Look for in Preschool Through Kindergarten  \nBy Beth M. Phillips  \nYoung children’s development takes place across multiple  \nstrands—such as physical skills, like learning to hold a  \ncrayon, and social skills, like learning to have back-andforth conversations. All of these strands weave together to support readiness for literacy and other academic learning.  \nAlthough every child is unique, there are some common things that you as a parent or caregiver can look for within each of these strands when your child is three to five years old. This way, you can seek professional guidance and support if you are concerned about an area of your child’s development.  \nPreparing your child to thrive in preschool, kindergarten, and beyond includes finding out if they are on track in their physical development. Check on your child’s overall health. Then, think specifically about their eyes, ears, hands, and feet! Be sure to work with a doctor, nurse, or other specialist to see whether your child’s vision, hearing, and motor skills are all developing typically.  \nAnother important strand of early development is social engagement with others. Your child should be sharing their  \nBeth M. Phillips is a professor of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems and an associate director of the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University.  \ninterests with you by pointing, bringing you things to look at, or initiating a topic of conversation. They also should respond (most of the time, if not always) when you call their attention to something that you find interesting. If this does not sound like the way your child engages with you and others, then it maybe a good idea to schedule a developmental screening for them. To complete this screening, contact your local public school district or locate your state’s specific version of the national Child Find program, which you can learn about at [go.aft.org/7aq. A screening is the first step in identifying devel](go.aft.org/7aq. A screening is the first step in identifying devel)opmental disabilities—and getting the services your child may need. Another great source of guidance and resources is at [autismnavigator.com](autismnavigator.com).  \nThe next strand to check on is your child’s language development. Language development is critical for literacy development, especially for being able to understand what you read. Language development is also highly connected to successful progress in other academic areas, such as math and science. Plus, strong communication skills are important for the development of strong social skills. There are some questions you can ask about your child’s language development to see if they are on track in the preschool to kindergarten period.  \n■ Can people who do not know your child understand their speech? By three years old, most of what your child says should  \n32 AMERICAN EDUCATOR | FALL 2023  \nbe clear, even to strangers who are not used to hearing your child speak. This does not mean that they pronounce all words and all sounds correctly all the time. It takes many children longer to clearly pronounce some sounds, like /th/, /r/, and /l/ .  \n■ Can your childfollow two-or three-step directions? Of course, children do not always do everything their families ask them to do, but your child should usually be able to follow a short sequence of directions when you ask them to. For example, they should complete both parts of “put on your shoes and  \ncome to the door” in the right order. Not sure what your child can do? Play some games for following directions with your child during routines like getting dressed, having a meal, and getting ready for bed.  \n■ Does your child speak in complete sentences using a variety of words? By age four, you should hear your child say sentences that include a large variety of nouns (people, places, and things) and verbs (actions). In addition, fou","cbCaiuVWYkdP2L7r","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuVWYkdP2L7r","pdf",690810,"English","# Is My Child on Track for Learning to Read?\n## What to Look for in Preschool Through Kindergarten\n## Physical Development Milestones\n## Social Engagement With Others\n## Language Development Questions\n## Early Literacy Skills for Reading","[{\"question\":\"What developmental areas should parents check to see if a child is on track for learning to read?\",\"answer\":\"Parents should look at physical development, overall health (including vision, hearing, and motor skills), social engagement with others, and language development, since language supports literacy and other academics.\"},{\"question\":\"At what age should most children have speech that is clear to strangers, and what exceptions are normal?\",\"answer\":\"By age three, most children’s speech should be clear even to strangers, though some children take longer to pronounce certain sounds correctly.\"},{\"question\":\"What early language and reading-related milestones can parents look for from preschool to kindergarten?\",\"answer\":\"Parents can ask whether others can understand the child’s speech, whether the child can follow two- or three-step directions, whether the child speaks in complete sentences with varied words by age four, and whether the child knows letter names and sounds and can play with sounds in simple words.\"}]","Is My Child on Track for Learning to Read? - What to Look for in Preschool Through Kindergarten | PDF",1792073492]