ECRR Concept of the Week (6-14-07):

A great way to show children a connection between what you are reading and what they are hearing is by following the text with your finger. This shows them that it is the words that are being read and not the pictures. Also, don't hesitate to point out words that are repeated often. These words can be called "popcorn" words and consist of small but important repetitive words: the, and, as, I, me, my... These will be some of the first words your children learn to recognize when they begin to read. -Amy Dawson, Youth Services Librarian, Catawba County Library System