Finding the Jaguars

It's important to discuss with children what we learn on the title page of a book. We learn the name of the book. We also learn the authors name, the person who wrote the book. We learn who drew the pictures, the illustrator's name. 

We want children to learn the difference between text (the words) and illusutrations (the pictures). When we read the story, we read the words. Point to each word as you read the story. then ask them to talk about what they see in the picture. 

Extension Activity: There are printed words and pictures everywhere in our world. Ask children to point to words and pictures  on signs or labels as you go about your everyday routines.

On this page, help children find the first word of the sentence and the last word of the sentence.  Hold their finger to help them point. Practice this when reading other books too.

You can practice first and last words by writing a short note to the children.  Try a short sentence like, "Mommy reads to Jaden" or "The dog barks at the cat."  Ask the children to find the first and last words in the sentence you wrote.

When reading storybooks, teach children about the directionality of reading, reading from top to bottom and left to right. When we finish one line, we go back to the left side to continue reading on the next line. It's helpful to point to the words as you read them and explain that you are going back to the beginning of the next line. Then ask them where to go next when you get to the end of the line. Try this in other stories that you read.

Help children practice reading from line to line on this page. You can also help children learn going from line to line in writing. Write a sentence in large letters so that you have to go to a new line.  When you get to the edge of the paper, ask where you should write the next word. Point to the next line if they need help. Then let the children write or scribble on a paper and see if they follow the correct pattern.

One this page, encourage children to look at individual words. We want children to know words are made of letters and there are spaces between words.  Practice making words in other ways. Use plastic letters to make 2 or 3 words or write 2 or 3 words on a paper.  Show the children the spaces between the words.

Help children find capital letters on this page. When you read a book with children, show them that each sentence starts with a capital letter.  Remind children that people's names always begin with a capital letter. 

Extension Activity: Write the children's name and ask them to point to the capital letter at the beginning. When you are at a store, help children find capital letters on signs around them or on items you buy. 

Now ask children to find small letters.  You can talk about the letters in their names and point out the small letters. Remind them that the first letter is a capital and the rest of the letters are small.  You can also look for small letters on signs as you walk through the school or along a street or in a store.

As you read books with children, show them question marks that are in the stories.  Ask what the question marks means.  A question mark tells us a question is being asked.  Read the sentence again so they can hear that a question is being ask in the story. 

On this page teach children that sentences end in a period. There are many periods in storybooks. Ask them to point to the period at the end of each sentence as you read.

Let them practice writing their own sentences. Let them use a crayon or marker to add a colorful period at the end of the sentence.