Becoming a Reader in a Digital Age

June 29, 2021
Written by:
Guest Author

This post is sponsored by The Learning Bar.

The first stage of becoming a reader usually begins in kindergarten or grade 1. This is when children learn the relationships between letters and sounds, how sounds are put together to form words, and how words are utilized to create sentences. The skills acquired during this period are the foundation for becoming a skilled reader. I have also provided tips to try to be effective at home with early childhood reading.

Becoming a reader is a skill set that requires three critical skills: decoding, fluency, vocabulary building. Today these skills are becoming more crucial due to the rapid advancements of digital technology, and the changes made in curriculums and future careers that will require complex computer technology.

The Importance of Mastering Literacy in Homeschool

After a child has acquired a foundational skill of reading, the next step is mastering literacy, which is the ability to read and write. Literacy is connected to everything we do. Presently this skill is not only a top priority of the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals for children and adults, but it is also the driving force of future economic development.

The pathway to full literacy helps build healthy connections in social situations and, vital for the upcoming fourth industrial revolution that will involve the advancements of artificial technology, internet of Things operations, genetic engineering, and quantum computing. The COVID-19 pandemic has already shifted our lifestyles to understand how essential these advancements are for the future stability of our global economy.

Literacy is a vital indicator of the health of the overall community and impacts economic factors such as crime rates, poverty, healthcare, and of course, job growth. Parents and caregivers have a challenging duty in supporting a pathway to literacy at the early stages of child development. Children perform substantially better in their learning environment when they have developed a strong reading background.

On the contrary, children who do not have access to reading materials or read regularly are vulnerable to falling behind in school and becoming disassociated economically as adults. This is a major concern, but it’s up to parents to guide their children on the pathway to becoming a reader with foundational skills which will carry on for a lifetime. As a parent or caregiver, you can understand and learn the science of reading to provide a child with foundational literacy skills by utilizing many resources provided online.

Tips for Homeschool Reading Development for Early Childhood

  • Practicing up to an hour a day going over appropriate reading books with your child is proven effective.
  • Make a habit of going over sentences with your child. Try words that may seem challenging to decode to practice, and repetition is key!
  • Engagement is very important. Spending time as a family and doing fun activities that are grade-level appropriate for learning words will help tremendously.

I would also like to recommend this resource for parents and caregivers this summer at home interested in improving their at-home reading routine, understanding the science of reading, and preparing their child for grade 1 literacy. This engaging resource requires both parent and child to complete together. Visit Becoming A Reader.

For more detailed information, visit The Learning Bar.

Additional Homeschool Resources

Teaching Reading Strategies and Engaging your Reluctant Readers

10 Ways to Make Your Homeschool Literacy Rich

The Cost of Low Literacy to the Nation