| ng opens the door for better communication and | | | | any opportunity that will help develop your |
| speech learning. It paves the way for special | | | | child’s literacy skills. |
| needs children to reach their full literacy potential. | | | | 6. Ask questions after reading a story. This |
| How can you incorporate reading in developing | | | | enhances the child’s memory and at the |
| your child’s literacy skills? Here are 10 | | | | same time, encourages him to speak out his |
| effective activities to make reading your partner | | | | ideas. |
| in fostering your child’s full potential and | | | | 7. Don’t read the ending of the story. Let |
| meeting the requirements of your special needs | | | | the child predict it. This develops creative thinking |
| child: | | | | and at the same time, enhances verbal |
| 1. Read aloud to your child. Find some time to | | | | expression. |
| read to your child. Reading aloud helps the child | | | | 8. Allow the child to ask questions. Don’t |
| develop his speech skills. It prepares the child to | | | | stop him when he interferes with the reading |
| read on his own. Reading aloud is very effective | | | | activity to ask something. |
| especially with pre-school children and those | | | | 9. Use cloze sentences in reading. This refers to |
| children with speech difficulties. | | | | activities wherein you say the first part of the |
| 2. Give the child the chance to pick the reading | | | | sentence or a phrase and let the child end it. This |
| material of his choice. Give him several options so | | | | is suitable for rhyme activities. |
| he can choose which one he likes most. This | | | | 10. Use interesting, attractive and educational |
| makes reading more interesting and it ensures the | | | | literacy materials. Special needs child will not read |
| child’s participation on the activity. | | | | or listen unless what is being read arouses their |
| 3. Read to the child on a regular basis. Set a | | | | interest. One advisable literacy material is the |
| schedule for the reading activity. This will help the | | | | POPS resources. Words are easy and the |
| child develop his full literacy potential. | | | | activities suit the needs of special children. |
| 4. Other members of the family should also be | | | | These ten reading activities will help special needs |
| seen reading. When a child sees his brothers, | | | | children develop reading and speech skills. Reading |
| sisters or parents reading, he will be motivated to | | | | and speech are primary factors that serve as |
| do so. Nothing beats teaching by example. | | | | foundation for better learning. Every child has the |
| 5. When outside the house, encourage your child | | | | ability to reach his full potential. Help your child by |
| to read on labels and signs. Don’t miss | | | | engaging him in reading activities. |