The power of reading is one that cannot be disputed. Children who know how to read and enjoy reading gain all sorts of skills, talents and information that they would not have otherwise.
Unfortunately, some children don’t enjoy stories. They may not care for books. Nonetheless, reading is an essential skill. All students must know how to read in order to succeed in school. Plus, eventually they will learn, and will read something that actually does interest them!
Why is reading so important for young learners? Up to the third grade, children go to school to learn to read. After the third grade, children must know how to read in order to learn. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that we empower our children with the correct reading skills early on for their future success.
The Power of Reading: Children Feel Confident
When children learn how to read through phonics, they really get to know the power of reading. Phonics teaches children a set of skills that help them handle reading material.
Reading is not a natural skill. It is one that must be taught very clearly. Children must practice these skills in order to improve at using them. Those who understand and practice these skills end up becoming stronger readers.
One of the most fascinating parts of teaching children to read through phonics is watching the transformation. Reading is a difficult process, but through phonics, children have the right tools to make that process doable. As a result, material that they once struggled with becomes easy to read. Children feel more confident and eager to read more and more, and soon learn things that they never would otherwise.
The Power of Reading: Access to Information and Education
Books contain information. Much of our education and schooling require text, whether in a physical book or online. No matter how the information is delivered, it is almost always in the form of written words.
Learning to read does not only impact language arts classes; it impacts science, math, history and even the arts. Without the ability to read proficiently, children are very likely to struggle with all other areas of study. In contrast, a child who has a strong ability to read will have an easier time with their studies, simply because they do not have the added workload of decoding written information.
Decoding is the most difficult part of learning to read. Essentially, children must translate symbols (letters) into sounds (phonemes) that create whole words. It is difficult to imagine our three-year-old needing to read forty pages of American History right now, but eventually he or she will need to in order to pass their high school classes.
That is why phonics is so effective. It starts small. At three or four years old, children simply deal with sounds (phonemes). Then, they learn how to match those sounds to letters on the page. Once they know how to sound out whole words, they move onto short sentences. Thereafter, children read groups of sentences. After that, it may be pages and pages of sentences. Eventually, they can and do read forty pages of American History, or even biology.
The Power of Reading: Prepared for a Lifetime of Learning and Doing
For the same reason that children have access to unlimited information, they also are prepared for a lifetime of learning. The power of reading allows them to handle any type of text, no matter what. Since they have practiced and mastered the ability to read and decode, they can continually learn whatever topic they choose. In their later years of life, this might include learning about organic chemistry, investing, religion or even a second language.
When children learn to read, they also pick up a variety of other skills such as discipline, focus and commitment. They learn not to fear challenges, but to embrace those opportunities and manage them confidently.
The power of reading allows children to do more, too. With the information they consume through books, essays, newspapers and magazines, they have the basic material to make personal goals and life visions. They feel better prepared for work, jobs and even careers. Better yet, they have the ability to learn more about the things they love most.
Empower Your Children With Professor Pup’s Academy
Professor Pup’s Academy wants every child to succeed at reading. We believe in the power of reading and all the good that it delivers. Our programs work for kids, so they can learn to read comfortably at a pace that matches them.
With Professor Pup, they always have a friend who helps them, encourages them and supports them. With positive feedback and a friendly learning environment, reading becomes a fun experience. Plus, our children learn exactly what they need to succeed at reading.
For children three to four years old, we recommend Professor Pup’s Phoneme Farm. This program helps develop phonemic awareness, an essential part of learning to read. Then, we have Pup’s Quest for Phonics and its sequel, Pup’s Quest 2: Emerging Reader. Here, children learn to read, write and spell all on their own!
Our apps are simple to use for tablets and even smart phones. If you want to learn more about Professor Pup’s Academy,visit us at the App Store or the Google Play Store. We offer the first five lessons for free, so you can experience for yourself the power of reading.